ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has sought progress reports of two major cases that shook the country.
Prime Minister’s special side on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill on Wednesday said in a Tweet that the Prime Minister has sought that progress report of the Islamabad harassment and motorway gang rape cases and directed the ministry of law to follow up on a daily basis to bring these cases to a logical conclusion.
The aide quoted the Premier as saying that protecting the rights of citizens is the primary duty of the government.
He said that the state will pursue these cases and make sure the offenders will get severe punishment.
Gill went on to say that the convicts have been sentenced to death by the anti-terrorism court in the motorway rape case and an appeal against the decision is now being heard in court on February 14.
The PM’s special assistance termed these elements who have been involved in such heinous crimes a challenge to a moderate society and justice system.
ریاست ہر صورت ان کیسز کی پیروی کر کے ملزمان کو سخت سزائیں دلوائی گی۔
موٹر وے ریپ کیس میں ATC میں سزائے موت کی سزا سنائی جا چکی اب اس کے خلاف اپیل 14 فروری کو عدالت میں سنی جا رہی ہے
اس طرح کے بھیانک جرائم میں ملوث عناصر اعتدال پسند معاشرے اور انصاف کے نظام کے لیے چیلنج ہیں۔
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) January 12, 2022
Read more: Motorway gang rape convicts appeal sentences in LHC
It is to be noted that the female victim of the Islamabad couple harassment case withdrew her statement and filed an affidavit denying further investigation of the matter.
The female victim of the case had previously testified in front of the magistrate that Usman Mirza and the other defendants had “threatened to gang-rape her if she did not have sex with her companion while they filmed it,” according to her statement.
The woman said that she was “forced to perform a naked dance in front of Usman and his accomplices,” and that when she refused, she was beaten up.
Read more: Usman Mirza, GT Road rape, Jatoi cases big challenges for judicial system: Fawad
On Tuesday, the Islamabad District and Sessions Court heard a case involving alleged harassment, in which the main accused, Usman Mirza, and seven others were brought before the court.
During the case’s hearing, the female victim filed a stamped document to the court, stating that “the police themselves have made this case,” and that “neither I have recognised any accused nor have I signed any papers.”
I have not given an affidavit under anyone’s pressure, she said.
She further alleged that the cops repeatedly took her signature and thumb impressions on blank documents.
“I don’t know any of the accused in this case, nor do I want to pursue the case further,” she said.
“I have only seen Rehan and other accused in police stations, I don’t even know them,” she added, referring to one of the case’s defendants.
“No one has tried to sexually assault me, I don’t know Rehan, and he was not making my video,” she stated.
Usman Mirza Case
It’s worth noting that in July of last year, a video showed the primary accused in the case, Usman Mirza, severely thrashing and tormenting the young couple in a room full of other males leaked on social media.
The Islamabad police arrested Mirza and filed a first information report (FIR) in the case just hours after the video went viral.
In the Islamabad couple harassment case, seven people were indicted, including Usman Mirza.
Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani indicted Hafiz Ataur Rehman, Farhan Shaheen, Adaras Qayyum Butt, Rehan Hassan Mughal, Umar Bilal, and Mohib Bangash.
Furthermore, the Islamabad High Court dismissed the three accused’s bail applications and ordered the authorities to complete Usman Mirza’s trial case within two months.
