Key suspect in motorway gang-rape case arrested
Monitoring Desk:
Police have arrested a key suspect in the motorway gang-rape case from Faisalabad city of Punjab province. Police arrested Abid Malhi from Faisalabad. The accused shifted to Lahore for interrogation in the motorway gang-rape case that caused countrywide protests.
“Police team interrogating the main accused”, Hasnain Haider, a senior police officer said. The arrest comes almost a month after the tragic gang-rape incident that sparked protests across the country. Human and women rights groups lashed out at the government and demanded the arrest of the culprits involved in the gang-rape of an aged woman on a motorway in Punjab province.
Shehbaz Gill also confirmed the arrest of a key suspect
Shehbaz Gill, the Prime Minister’s special assistant also confirmed the arrest through a tweet and hailed the police force for apprehending the culprit involved in the incident.
Last month, two robbers on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway had gang-raped a mother of two in front of her children in an area falling within the Gujjarpura police jurisdiction. The incident caused a countrywide outpouring of anger and brought sexual violence against women into national focus. Abid and Shafqat Ali alias Bagga — who is on judicial remand— are the main suspects in the case.
Abid already wanted in 10 other criminal cases by the police force
Abid, who was leading a gang of four, is also wanted to police in at least 10 other criminal cases registered at various police stations of Punjab. The news was welcomed by President Arif Alvi, who termed the arrest “a matter of national relief”.
The motorway gang-rape prompted the human rights activists and political parties to mount pressure on the government to arrest the culprits at all costs. The Balochistan assembly had also demanded the arrests of culprits through a resolution.
Key suspect in motorway gang-rape case arrested
