LAHORE: In a major development in Motorway gang-rape case, which has spread anger across the country, police have identified prime suspect as Abid Malhi after crime samples matched with his DNA from criminal database of 2013.
Sources claimed that DNA of suspect Abid Malhi, a resident of Fort Abbas, matched with the sample obtained from the dress of the victim. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab is conducting raids for the arrest of the criminal. However, the rapists are still at large.
Police contacted the victim to record her statement but her family apologized citing that her health condition was not good at the moment. The focal person said it was understandable and agreed to record the statement later.
Moreover, a high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to review the progress on the Motorway case. The members of investigative committee informed the CM about the progress on the case. It has been decided in the meeting to link Punjab Police Helpline 15 and Punjab Highway Patrol Helpline 1124 with Motorway Police Helpline 130.
The CM directed the Punjab Police to perform its duties till the deployment of Motorway Police on Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. Instructing the committee to complete the investigation as soon as possible, Usman Buzdar said it was the responsibility of the state to ensure immediate justice to the affected woman and the government would fulfill this responsibility and the accused involved in this tragic incident would not escape from justice. Usman Buzdar said that "I am personally monitoring the progress on the case and will not relax until justice will be provided to the affected family." The CM was informed during the briefing that Punjab Highway Patrolling, Special Protection Unit and Elite Force have been deployed on Lahore-Sialkot Motorway and 91 km long route has been divided into three beats. Additional Chief Secretary Home informed the meeting about the progress. Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Provincial Information Minister Fayyaz Al Hassan Chohan, Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and concerned authorities attended the meeting. Moreover, Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz Al Hassan Chohan hoped that the case would reach its logical conclusion in a few hours.