Two more suspects in mazar rape case held

KARACHI, April 24: Two more suspects in the Mazar-i-Quaid gang-rape case were arrested by the police on Thursday following the receipt of the DNA report, which confirmed their involvement in the case.

An 18-year-old woman was subjected to rape after being kidnapped inside the premises of the Mazar by unknown persons on the night of March 15.

She was found in a precarious condition at the gate of the mausoleum in the early hours of March 17.

Subsequently, police registered a case under Section 365/B of the Pakistan Penal Code, inserted into the PPC through the Protection of Women Act, 2006.

The assistant manager of the mazar security force was arrested on March 20 following positive identification by the young woman in court. Later, a DNA report also confirmed his involvement in the case.

On Thursday, police arrested an accountant and a personal assistant to the resident engineer of the Quaid-i-Azam Management Board following the receipt of the DNA report.

“We had sent the samples for testing to the Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad. On Thursday we received the results showing their positive involvement in the case,” said SSP Investigation South, Niaz Ahmed Khosa.

The report says that DNA from the blood samples of the accountant and personal assistant (names withheld) was isolated and analyzed along with previously isolated DNA from stained clothes of the rape victim.

The DNA profiling was carried out by using AmpFISTR Profiler Plus and COfiler, ABI set of genetic markers on ABI 3130 genetic analyzer, the report says.

The report concludes that the DNA profiles of the two suspects matched 100 per cent with the DNA profile obtained from the DNA isolated from the stained clothes of the victim.

“It confirms the involvement of both suspects in the crime and also the gang-rape of the victim,” the report further states.

Quoting the experts of the Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, the SSP investigations said that DNA profiles, which have been separated from the clothes of the victim, make up five different profiles.

So far, three profiles have matched positively.

The findings also corroborate the account of the rape victim, who said five suspects had taken part in the gang rape, the SSP added.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/25/2008