ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court Wednesday directed the Punjab government to provide full protection to the parents of Amna, a rape victim of Muzafargarh district, and take action against the accuse.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard a suo moto case regarding rape victim Amna, who had committed self-immolation in Muzafargarh after the Punjab police declared the accused innocent in the FIR.
During the hearing, the victim’s mother Nizam Mai and her father Ghulam Farid appeared before the court and submitted that since certain police officials are involved in the case which led her daughter to set herself ablaze, they feel insecure in the area.
They further submitted that all the police officials who tried to protect the accused should also be brought to justice and they be provided State protection.
Meanwhile, Acting Advocate General, Punjab, Mustafa Ramday, assured the court that he will get in touch with District Police Officer, Muzaffargarh, to ensure that all the accused are brought to justice and that the parents of Amna and their family is provided protection as and when needed.
He further submitted that the police officer who earlier was accused of doing partisan investigation is behind the bars and the DSP who had verified and confirmed the report of innocence of the accused, is also nominated in the second case registered vide FIR No. 31/2014 dated 15.3.2014 at Police Station Bait Mir Hazar under Sections 201/322 PPC read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 5-C of Police Order, 2002 but he is on pre-arrest bail.
The Acting Advocate General informed the court that the investigation is in progress in terms of the previous order of this Court and the same would be finalized soon after the receipt of the report from the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory, Lahore. He, however, sought two weeks time in this regard.
The court adjourned the hearing till April 21, directing the IG Punjab to submit final report of the investigation by or before the said date at Lahore, on the availability of Bench.
Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on March 14 had taken notice on a media report that a young girl Amna was raped in the area of Police Station Mir Hazar, Muzaffargarh; that although a criminal case was registered but the same was cancelled despite the statement of the victim and other evidence available on record; that the said girl, her mother and other relatives protested in front of the police station where the said girl burnt herself within the view of the policemen.