Islamabad: The lawyer of the girl who was raped in F Nine Park Islamabad has alleged that the accused were killed in a fake police encounter and demanded an answer from the police chief.
In a shocking incident earlier this month, two armed men raped a girl at gunpoint in a park in an unlit area, sending shockwaves across the country.
However, he was later arrested by the police and shot dead under mysterious circumstances.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, along with human rights activist Farzana Bari, Advocate Iman Mazari raised questions on police performance and handling of the case.
According to a police statement, two persons allegedly involved in the Fatima Jinnah (F-9) Park gang-rape incident were shot dead after an exchange of fire at a police checkpoint near Sector D-12.
“When they were signaled to stop, they tried to run away. When stopped by the police, the motorcyclists opened fire on the policemen stationed at the checkpoint. Fortunately, the policeman escaped unhurt,” the police said, adding that retaliatory fire was fired.
The police stand was today countered by civil society members and lawyers who said the suspects are already in police custody and the victim has confirmed her identity.
Expressing regret, Iman Mazari said that the victim girl’s identity was also revealed, which is a crime under Pakistani laws.
Stating the details, the lawyer said that the tragic incident took place on February 2 while the accused were arrested on February 15.
“The girl reported at 4:30 pm that she was called by the police to identify the suspects. I went to the police station and registered myself.
Mazari added that he sent a message to SSP Maria to conduct the DNA test as you have the custody of the suspects. “I called the policeman several times but he did not give me time to meet him.”
Highlighting the mishandling of the case, Mazari noted that the police arrived at the scene but did not close the park’s gates.
“Why were they extrajudicially killed?” he asked, adding that more details could have come out if he had been tried.
“The police have created a fake encounter story,” he alleged and demanded an answer from the Islamabad IG as it happened under his watch.
Condemning the extrajudicial killings, Mazari said that both the accused were present in the CIA police station.
’50 rapes in three years’
Meanwhile, rights activist Farzana Bari said both men had confessed to their crimes during interrogation.
“He raped her 50 times in three years in Islamabad,” Bari said.
Expressing regret over extrajudicial killings, Bari said that it has become a culture in Pakistan.
He demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and urged the authorities to conduct a departmental inquiry into the leak of the First Information Report (FIR).
