Motorway rape case: Police nab key suspect from Dipalpur

(Karachi) Punjab police claimed to have arrested another key suspect in Motorway rape incident, media reported on Monday. Shafqat is a friend of prime suspect Abid and has confessed his involvement in the motorway gang-rape case.

As per details, accused Shafqat was nabbed during a raid by police in Dipalpur. The officials maintained that Shafqat has been arrested in light of accused Waqarul Hassan's disclosures. They said the police are conducting raids to nab prime culprit Abid.

Shocking Revelations

During the course of interrogation, suspect Shafqat transpired that he along with Abid had planned to commit robbery on the Motorway. He said they were drunk and under the influence of alcohol.

He highlighted that accused Abid broke the window of the car in which the victim was seated and injured his arm.

He revealed after robbing the woman, they took her and children out of the car and took them in the bushes. There they sexually assaulted the woman and fled.

Shafqat told the investigators that they are habitual criminals and had committed robberies and are also involved in rape incidents. He said after committing the offence, they would escape to Kacha area to hide and evade arrest.

لاہور - سیالکوٹ موٹروے کے دلخراش واقعہ میں خاتون سے زیادتی میں ملوث شفقت علی گرفتار ہو چکا ہے، جس کا ڈی این اے میچ کر چکا ہے اور اس نے اعتراف جرم بھی کر لیا ہے.
ملزم عابد علی کی گرفتاری کے لیے بھی ہماری ساری ٹیم مسلسل کوشاں ہے جس کی گرفتاری انشاء اللہ جلد متوقع ہے!

— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) September 14, 2020

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40018471/ccpo-lahore-issues-apology-for-blaming-motorway-gang-rape-victim

Accused surrenders

Another suspect, identified as Abbas, also surrendered to the police on Monday. Abbas is the brother-in-law of Waqar, who was named as one of the main suspects in the case during a press conference on September 12.

Abbasi has also denied involvement in the case. In a video statement, he said that he hopes and prays that the police will dispense justice. “I am the father of three daughters. I hope I get justice too.”

In a tweet, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that the DNA of the suspect Shafqat has matched and he has also confessed of his involvement in rape incident.

He added that the police are making efforts and the other accused will be arrested soon.

The backdrop

On September 13, one of the alleged co-accused in Lahore Motorway gang-rape case surrendered himself to police in Model Town area.

Accused Waqarul Hassan reached Model Town police station and surrendered himself to CIA officials. In his initial statement, the suspect refused of his involvement in the gang-rape incident and said he has nothing to do with the incident.

The 36-year-old surrendered after his CNIC card and picture were flashed across multiple television channels. The police are interrogating him and will investigate further.

The police said the accused also has a criminal background and was released from jail two weeks ago. Pictures of two suspects, Abid Malhi and Waqarul Hasan, were released to the public in Motorway rape incident.

The Punjab police announced prize money of Rs2.5 million to help arrest the suspects.

On September 9, the woman was allegedly gang raped during a robbery bid in Gujjarpura along the recently inaugurated Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. The new Motorway currently has no rest stops or service stations as of yet.

Police said the victim was travelling with her children in a car when the vehicle stalled due to lack of petrol. She called a relative and sent him her location on the Motorway. When the relative arrived at the location, he saw the victim driving the car towards them with broken window panes.

The woman told police that she was waiting for the family to arrive to pick her and the children when two armed assailants allegedly attacked her.

One suspect hit the car with clubs and the other held them hostage at gunpoint. The attackers then took her and the children to a nearby forested area where the victim claims they gang raped her. Later on, they robbed her of valuables and left her stranded.