CJP takes notice of child rape and murder in Mardan

MARDAN: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar on Friday took suo motu notice of rape and murder of a minor girl from Mardan after Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) confirmed the child was subjected to sexual assault before her murder.

Justice Saqib Nisar issued directives to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Salahuddin Mehsud to submit a report on the incident within next 24 hours.

Four-year-old Asma was abducted on January 13 outside her house in Gujjar Garhi area near Mardan and her body was found dumped at a nearby sugarcane field next day.

The family of the little girl then had voiced suspicion that Asma was subjected to sexual assault before being strangulated to death.

The police registered case against unidentified rapist on complaint of the victim’s family. The authorities then conducted DNA tests of as many as 200 people to make an arrest.

Earlier, the samples garnered from the crime scene were sent for DNA profiling.

The area residents have been demanding stern action against the culprit(s), besides measures to prevent repeat of such incidents in future.