MULTAN, Nov 1: Police investigation and preliminary medical report deny the gang-rape of a girl by a cleric, his brothers and a friend. Mirza Muhammad Ali, regional police officer, Multan range, told Dawn that during the investigation and visit by the investigation officer to the house of Saima Parveen, the `victim’, suggested no evidence of resistance in the room whereas her statement carried contradictions.

Similarly, he said, the medico legal report had also cast doubt on the veracity her story. The final vaginal report was awaited Mirza Ali said that earlier the girl, master’s in Islamiyat, had got a case registered against accused Hafiz Idrees and another unknown person under section 452, 354 PPC on Aug 19 with the Lohari Gate police which also turned out to be false.

He said that Hafiz Idrees was a well reputed person and led prayers in a local masque.

The girl, he said, had tried to earn public sympathy by giving her stories to the press to avenge the insult caused to her by the cancellation of engagement with Idrees.

A number of neighbours who attended the investigation process said Idrees was innocent.