PESHAWAR, April 18: A two-member Peshawar High Court bench on Wednesday ordered the police investigator to do a lie detector (polygraph) test on the alleged Karak gang rape victim and all the accused to find the truth in the high-profile case.

Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth also issued fresh orders to the investigation officer, senior superintendent of police (investigation), Attiqullah Wazir, for a thorough inquiry.

The final contempt of court notice was also issued to arrested police official, Hakeem Khan, the prime accused in the rape case and that of her brother’s killing, with the court asking him to explain his position within 10 days on humiliating and ridiculing the court by organising a police procession.

When the bench began hearing into the case, the investigation officer said DNA tests of some other suspects, including army official Shakeel, had found to be negative as it didn’t match that of a baby girl born to the alleged rape victim. Earlier, DNA tests of around a dozen of accused persons did not match that of the infant.

The investigator suggested that he be allowed to conduct lie detector (polygraph) screening of the girl and her alleged rapists to ascertain truth in the case.

He said in line with the court directives, a female investigation officer quizzed the alleged rape victim, who stuck to her earlier statement that during captivity of around a year, she was sexually assaulted by several persons some of whom were not known to her but she could recognise them on appearance.

Ghulam Nabi Khan, lawyer for the prime accused, Hakeem Khan, tendered unconditional apology on his client’s behalf over contempt of court and requested the court to pardon him saying he could not even think of ridiculing the court.

However, the bench turned down the request observing that final show cause notice would be issued to him to which he should submit reply within 10 days after which the court would announce its decision.

When the lawyer insisted that his client was innocent, the chief justice said the court had a video footage showing the accused, who was brought to court after completion of his physical remand with police on December 9, leading a procession and shouting slogans against the court. He also said if the accused had not acted in that manner, Alamzeb might not have been killed on that day.

The chief justice said the accused was acting like inspector general of police and was so influential that he was taken to the court without handcuffs in a private car instead of police vehicle and was allowed to address the procession there.