LAHORE: The Gujjarpura police on Saturday submitted an investigation report before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the motorway gang-rape case with a request to hold the trial of the two suspects in jail.

Investigating Officer Zulfiqar Cheema submitted the report (challan) of over 200 pages against the prime suspect, Abid Malhi, and co-suspect Shafqat Bagga.

On the last hearing, the court had issued a show-cause notice to the IO for delaying submission of the investigation report despite repeated commitments.

According to the report, 40 prosecution witnesses had been enlisted, including the rape survivor, the complainant of the FIR and the person who reported the incident on police helpline.

It stated that the woman identified the suspects during an ‘identification parade’ in the jail in the presence of a judicial magistrate. Police recorded the statement of the victim thrice.

They recovered a pistol and a club, used in the crime, from the suspects and confiscated their mobile phones.

The prime suspect, Malhi, had snatched cash over Rs100,000 from the woman. However, police are yet to recover gold bangles and ATM cards, which Malhi had snatched from her.

The challan says police had traced the suspects with the help of the DNA samples, maintained by the forensic science agency, which matched with the blood stains found at the crime scene.

It further stated that the suspects also confessed to committing their crime.

Presiding Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta would soon resume trial proceedings in the Kot Lakhpat Jail. A special prosecution team comprising, Waqar Abid, Hafiz Asghar and Abdul Jabbar, has been appointed to assist the trial court.

The Gujjarpura police had lodged the FIR under sections 376, 392 and 427 of Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2021