ISLAMABAD - Expressing grave concern over failure to arrest killer of a minor girl Asma, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have completely failed to perform.
A three-judge bench, headed by the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing a suo motu notice on rape and murder of a four-year-old-girl in Mardan district.
The bench also took notice of murder of a medical college student Asma Rani and directed the IGP KP to submit a report in this regard within one day. Asma a third-year medical student was shot dead in Kohat allegedly for refusing a marriage proposal. Before her death, she revealed about the assailant to her brother.
Deputy Inspector General KP Alam Khan Shinwari informed the court that still the murderer of four-year-old girl was not arrested, adding they are waiting for a DNA report.
The chief justice was annoyed and asked whether there is no forensics lab in the province for conducting DNA tests. “You have no capacity to investigate the matter, therefore, you are dependent on the Punjab government,” the CJP said and adding: “This is a total failure of KP.”
Justice Saqib remarked: "We heard tales that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have become much better; what was the force doing after a girl was murdered in Kohat?" ,adding there seems no mechanism set for investigation.
The DIG told that the incident took place on January 13 while the body was recovered from a sugarcane field on January 14. He said that cause of death is asphyxia. He said after collecting evidence from the crime scene they had sent them to a forensic lab in Lahore.
Shinwari told that the police investigated 350 people, and a few suspects have been identified as well. He also informed the court that they are waiting for the DNA report. He further said this is a “blind murder case”, and evidence has yet to be collected. “We have constituted a Joint Investigation Team comprising officers of IB, ISI, MI, Special Branch and CTD and KP police.
The chief justice said that they would ensure full cooperation of the Punjab forensic lab with you.
The case was adjourned until next Tuesday.