MARDAN -  A tussle has started between the district police officer and nazim over Asma murder case in Mardan, sources told The Nation on Monday.

According to details, the minor girl, Asma, a resident Jandarpar Gujjar Garhi area of Mardan, had gone missing from home some two weeks ago; later her body was found in sugarcane fields.

Following the incident, Nazim Mardan Himayatullah Mayar presented the issue of assault and murder of Asma on print, electronic and social media and also arranged All Parties Conference (APC) in this connection. The nazim also highlighted the murder cases of Shab Noor, Maryam, Shabnam and Hansia who were also killed.

Himayt Mayar, in a video uploaded on social media and talking to this correspondent, said that he highlighted the murder and the issue of Asma and other children occurred in the district.

The district nazim also criticised the role of the modern police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the case, due to which, the District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed removed security guards from his office and also withdrew security guards who were performing duty with him.

He added the DPO taking revenge from him for highlighting the killing of the children in the district. He said it was his right that local police officers will provide security to him. “According to which law more than 84 cops were performing duty on the DPO houses and with his relatives,” he added.

The nazim claimed that the district police officer has allegedly and illegally provided security to private people and elite in the district and a large number of cops were engaged in security of the unrelated people.

However, DPO Dr Mian Saeed categorically rejected the allegations and said that it was a routine transfer and posting in the district police. He added that he did not remove the security guards from the office of district nazim.

Meanwhile, the growing incidents of sexual abuse and killings have multiplied fear among the local residents.

SC TO HEAR ASMA RAPE-

MURDER CASE TODAY

INP adds: The Supreme Court on Monday fixed the hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to the rape and murder of four-year-old Asma in Mardan district for Tuesday (today).

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-member bench will hear the case at the principal seat in Islamabad.

On January 26, the Chief Justice took suo motu notice of the rape and murder of the minor girl and sought a report from the IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Asma went missing on January 13 from Jandarpar Gujjar Garhi area of Mardan and her body was found from sugarcane fields in the same area on January 17.

According to the post-mortem report, she was subjected to sexual assault and torture before her captors strangled her to death.

The police have so far failed to nab the culprit behind the grisly incident, which came to the light following the rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab in Kasur.

MAN HELD FOR ‘ABUSING’ GIRL

The Mardan police have arrested a man for allegedly sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl in Kharki village, police said on Monday.

Addressing to a news conference, District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed said that two days ago Mohammad Nawab, a resident of Kharaki, allegedly kidnapped Rubina and took her to the nearby sugarcane fields and allegedly sexually abused her.

He said it was confirmed by the medical report that the girl was sexually abused. He added the police have registered a case against the accused under section 376/53 of PPC.

DPO Mian Saeed told that in the Asma murder case the forensic report wasn’t received by the local police so far.

He added that after receiving the report, the police will further extend its instigations in the Asma’s murder case. The police will start an awareness campaign in this connection on police station level, he informed.