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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed relevant authorities to submit a progress report on the Islamabad couple harassment case.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said despite the Islamabad harassment case, the prime minister has sought a report on the motorway rape case
PM Khan has directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to conduct a follow-up on both cases on a daily basis and bring them to a conclusion. He was quoted as saying that “protection of the citizens’ rights is the primary duty of the government.”
The state has announced to pursue the case pertaining to a couple’s harassment in Islamabad after the female victim withdrew her statement and submitted an affidavit that she does not want to pursue the case.
Earlier, PTI’s Parliamentarian Secretary Maleeka Bokhari had announced the federal government’s decision to pursue the couple’s harassment case on the state’s behalf.
She said that the decision has been taken in view of the female victim’s denial of recognising the suspects despite the availability of “irrefutable” video and forensic evidence. She said that the culprits involved in the case must face the law.
“The State will pursue prosecution in the Usman Mirza case irrespective of recent developments relating to victim’s testimony. Irrefutable video & forensic evidence on record- anyone harassing & stripping a woman must face full force of the law,” she wrote.
On Tuesday, during the hearing of the case at Islamabad District and Sessions Court, the female victim submitted a stamp paper and refused to indentify the suspects including the prime accused Usman Mirza. She claimed that “the police itself has created this case, neither I have recognised any accused nor have signed any papers.”
She further maintained that the police took her signature and thumb impressions on blank papers multiple times. She maintained that the affidavit was not being given under duress. She also denied giving ransom money to anyone.
In July last year, a video surfaced on social media in which Usman Mirza could be seen violently thrashing and harassing the young couple. Islamabad police took Mirza into custody and registered a first information report (FIR) in the case.
Later on, seven people, including Usman Mirza, were indicted in the Islamabad couple harassment case. The Islamabad High Court had rejected the bail appeals and directed the authorities to complete Usman Mirza’s trial case in two months.
