The Islamabad police arrested the suspect believed to be responsible for the alleged rape incident that occurred recently at one of the hiking trails in Margalla Hills.
The announcement was made following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on Friday morning when the victim had reported that she was lured under the pretense of a job opportunity, taken to trail 3 of Margalla Hills, and raped at gunpoint.
In a statement issued today, the Islamabad Police revealed that their diligent efforts over the course of three days led to the apprehension of the suspect. They executed the arrest late last night based on technical evidence, as the victim had not been cooperative during the investigation.
“The main accused has been arrested and is currently in police custody on a four-day remand, as the investigation is underway,” Taqi Jawad, an Islamabad police spokesperson, told Arab News.
Details would be shared with media after the investigations are complete and the police is able to draw a conclusion, Jawad said further.
“The initial medical report of the complainant has not shown any signs of rape, and we are awaiting the results of the detailed forensic report from the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory,” he added.
Yesterday, the police tweeted that the incident was being thoroughly investigated, and according to the victim’s medical report, no evidence of assault was found and that there were “no signs of resistance or marks due to the bushes” at the trail. The police also noted that there was “friendship between the victim and the suspect”.
Addressing concerns about the safety of Margalla Hill trails, the police statement emphasized the implementation of drone surveillance and effective patrolling to ensure security.
FIR of the incident
The FIR was registered under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code, based on the survivor’s complaint, at Kohsar police station in Islamabad. According to the complaint, the survivor, a resident of Muridke, had been searching for employment when she received a message on WhatsApp approximately two months ago. The message came from an individual claiming to be an accountant in the education department, who informed her about available vacancies and promised assistance in securing a job. However, he requested Rs50,000 in return.
The survivor explained that she traveled to Rawalpindi as instructed and met the suspect at Tench Bhatta, where she provided her curriculum vitae and handed over Rs30,000. The remaining Rs20,000 were to be paid upon receiving the employment order. The suspect then informed her that she would have to meet a senior officer who would conduct the job interview and assured her of a favorable outcome.
On Thursday, the suspect picked her up on a motorcycle from Tench Bhatta’s last bus stop and took her to Margalla Hills’ Trail 3. It was there that he allegedly raped her at gunpoint around 3 p.m., threatening her life if she made any noise. Fearing for her safety, the survivor remained silent throughout the ordeal. The suspect later dropped her off at Tench Bhatta’s last bus stop after further threats.
The survivor demanded stringent legal action against the suspect and requested a medical examination, leading to her referral to Polyclinic along with a lady constable for the checkup.