MULTAN: A magistrate remanded on Monday 27 suspects in judicial custody after police did not seek physical remand in the panchayat rape case.

Police produced 27 suspects, including five women, in the court of judicial magistrate Pervaiz Khan. Earlier, the police had got three-day physical remand of the suspects. The female suspects were sent to women jail and the male [suspects] to district jail.

Meanwhile, a three-member committee constituted by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has submitted its report to him [CM]. The committee visited the spot, gathered information about the incident from locals, recorded statements of both parties and police officials linked with the case investigation.

The committee, headed by Chief Minister Inspection Team Chairman Irfan Ali, comprised Punjab Constabulary DIG Malik Abu Bakr Khuda Bakhsh and Sargodha Regional Police Officer Zulfiqar Hameed.

An FIR No. 517/17 was lodged against the panchayat members with Muzaffarbad police who arrested the suspects and got physical remand for three days.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2017