FAISALABAD, Sept 13: The additional district and sessions judge on Friday extended for another seven days the pre-arrest bail of the Madina Town college principal and her husband.

The prosecution submitted that the accused couple — Govt Girls College, Madina Town, principal Nargis and her husband Muhammad Rafiq — had committed a crime against society.

It was further submitted that even if it was considered a ‘simple’ rape case, the accused were liable to be punished for 25-year rigorous imprisonment and 50 lashes. This further deprived the accused of any leniency under the law.

It was argued that the woman medical officer had clearly opined in her report that the victim was raped. It was another sufficient ground for the rejection of the bail application of the accused.

The defence counsel submitted that he had been engaged by the accused just a day before. He sought short adjournment, saying he was not fully prepared.

He, however, contended that the couple had been implicated in this case by some staff members of the college who were reportedly annoyed with the principal because of her tight discipline and administration.

The court directed the prosecution to complete investigation of the rape case at the earliest and made it clear that no further adjournment would be granted to any of the party.

Later, the court adjourned the case for Sept 19.

ALLEGATION: Resources and manpower of tehsil municipal administrations and district governments are being used to launch election campaign of pro-government parties by violating rules and regulations of the election commission.

This was alleged by PPP’s Punjab secretary-general Aftab Ahmad here on Friday.

In a statement, the PPP leader alleged that councillors and union council Nazimeen were also being given ‘lollipops’ of developmental funds for supporting PML-QA and Millat Party candidates. But the election commission and other agencies concerned were playing the role of silent spectators.

Police officials, senior administrative functionaries and high-ups of health and education departments had also been directed to cooperate with the ‘chums’ of the rulers, he alleged.

He further alleged that meetings of PML-QA and MP candidates were being organized in cities and rural areas by spending official funds. Local government employees were also being forced to attend the meetings of pro-government candidates, he said.

The PPP leader alleged that sites for polling stations were also being selected on the recommendations of PML-QA and MP candidates so that leaders of these parties could use their influence on voters.

He threatened in case violation of election rules was not stopped by the EC, the PPP would have a right to protest on roads.