LAHORE: Punjab Prosecutor General (PG) Syed Farhad Ali Shah on Thursday took notice of rape-cum-murder of a young girl under the pretext of offering online work in Bahawalpur and the killing of a boy in Kasur.

The PG summoned the investigating officers (IOs) of both cases in person to review progress in the investigation.

Bahawalpur police IO Inspector Suhail Anwar appeared at the office of the prosecutor general with the complete record of the case.

After reviewing the record, Mr Shah asked the IO as to why the investigation was not conducted under the Anti-Rape Act 2021 by the Special Sexual Offences Investigation Unit (SSOIU).

The IO responded that after the victim’s death, the investigation was handed over to the local police.

Expressing displeasure over the negligence of the IO and the supervisory officers, the PG issued a formal line of inquiry and wrote a letter to the Bahawalpur district police officer, directing him to transfer the case investigation to the SSOIU under Section 10 of the Anti-Rape Act 2021.

About the abduction and murder of 14-year-old Hassan Ali in Kasur, the IO concerned told the PG that the suspects had been arrested and investigation was underway.

The PG issued a line of inquiry to the IO instructing him to complete the investigation on merit at the earliest.

He also wrote a letter to the district public prosecutor of Kasur to ensure full legal assistance to both the police and the victim’s family in this case.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2024