Prime suspects of Lahore motorway gang-rape identified: IGP Punjab

In a major breakthrough, the Government of Punjab claimed on Saturday that police have identified the prime suspects involved in the ghastly rape of a mother of three on a major highway in Lahore.

Identified as Abid Ali s/o Akbar Ali was traced though DNA profiling, IGP Punjab Inam Ghani told reporters on Saturday where Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, along with his cabinet members, was also present.

The second suspect – identified as Waqaul Hassan Shah – was traced on the basis of Abid’s phone record. Abid carries seven mobile SIM cards, while only one is registered in his name.

The prime suspect is a resident of Fort Abbas, a small village in Bahawalnagar district, while Waqar is a resident of Qilla Sattar Shah in Sheikhupura district.

As per the IGP, Abid, 27, is a habitual offender. He has five cases registered against him.

His DNA profile has been available with the police since 2013 because of his criminal record. His DNA matched with the DNA found on the rape victim and at the crime scene.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar announced a reward of Rs2.5 million for each of the suspects if information leading to their arrest is shared. He said that the identity of those bringing forward any information will be kept confidential.

Buzdar said. "We worked day and night and launched a probe using scientific techniques. I personally monitored the progress and directed the completion of the probe expediently."

"I want to inform you all we have succeeded in tracking down the real culprits behind this heart wrenching incident in less than 72 hours."

"I assure you that the savages that have committed this crime will be brought to justice very soon," the chief minister vowed.

On Wednesday, two men raped a woman at gunpoint when she ran out of fuel near Lahore’s Gujjarpura and was waiting along with her children for help on the motorway.

The two men broke her car window, and made her park on the roadside. They then took her and the children to a nearby forest and raped her. Later on, they robbed her of valuables which included Rs100,000 cash and jewelry.

The woman’s initial medical examination confirmed that she had been raped.