LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced that the provincial government has reached the real culprits in the Lahore motorway gang-rape, which has caused immense outrage all over the country.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore today (Saturday) along with Inspector General of Police Punjab (IGP) Inam Ghani and Law Minister Raja Basharat, CM Buzdar said that Punjab police have identified both the suspects within less than 72 hours.
The Chief Minister vowed that the culprits will be arrested soon and also announced Rs2.5 million reward for any information leading to their arrest. He also said he had personally talked to the victim and assured her of justice.
He further said that the investigation of the case was started in a scientific manner and he was personally monitoring the probe. “The beasts involved in the incident will soon be arrested and given appropriate punishment as per the law,” he added. ‘
Referring to the CCPO Lahore issue, Usman Buzdar informed that IGP Punjab Inam Ghani has issued a show-cause notice to CCPO Umer Sheikh over his remarks in which he allegedly blamed the Lahore gang-rape victim.
“IGP has directed CCPO Lahore to submit a reply within seven days,” Buzdar said, adding that legal action would be taken against the CCPO after the submission of his reply.
On the occasion, IGP Punjab Iman Ghani informed that the police have the entire record of both suspects in the case. “A special investigation was constituted in which officers from the CTD, Special Branch, and an officer from the unit of violence against women were a part of the team,” Ghani added.
He further informed that the entire area where the incident took place was canvassed. “Geo-fencing of the entire area was carried out, data was taken from the Election Commission of Pakistan, fingerprints were taken from the site, and DNA tests were conducted,” he said.
Inam Ghani said that it was confirmed through scientific evidence last night that the primary suspect in the case is one Abid Ali, a resident of Fort Abbas in Bahawalnagar district.
IGP Ghani informed that police were 95-96 per cent sure of the identity of Ali’s accomplice, whose presence at the crime scene was shown by telephone data.
He said, “We were ready by today afternoon to conduct raids at their houses and arrest them but we found they were not in Lahore but in a village, Qila Sattar Shah, in district Sheikhupura.”
“I hope we will be able to reach the suspects very soon,” he said, urging the public to help in the manhunt by informing police about their presence on 15 helpline.
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