Staff Reporter
Lahore
Waqarul Hassan, identified as one of the ‘culprits’ in the motorway gang-rape case, turned himself in to the police on Sunday. Hassan presented himself to the CIA Model Town police station and denied any involvement in the case.
The culprit, on presenting himself to the police, said the SIM card registered to his name was actually in use of his brother-in-law, Abbas. He said that he was being wrongly implicated in the case and also expressed willingness to have a DNA test conducted.
The suspect is said to be a mechanic, and has a workshop in Ali Town in Qila Sattar Shah, and claims that he was in Lahore on the day of the incident.
However, the police claims that Hassan did not surrender but was actually arrested by the police. They are now also expressing suspicion on Hassan’s relative, claiming that he will soon be taken into police custody for questioning.
On the other hand, main accused Abid Ali Malhi is on the run and a number of police teams are hunting round the clock.
Abid Ali has been involved in crimes like theft, robbery, murder and rape in the past, according to people of his own village.
An investigation held in the Abid Ali’s village to ascertain facts about him, people of his native village, Chak-260 HR in Fort Abbas Tehsil, said that victims in most cases had reconciled with Abid Ali due to the fear factor. They said that Abid Ali started criminal activities in his own area and he has been involved in criminal activities for a long time.
The locals said that Abid Ali had the backing of local political people and he left his village five years ago due to the fear of the local police.
Abid Ali, son of Akbar Ali, was named in a case (13/264) registered in Fort Abbas Police Station. Besides Abdi Ali, his four accomplices were also named in this case.
In this case, Abid Ali and his accomplices had allegedly raped a woman and her daughter in front of their family members.