Police chief suspended following 10-year-old Farishta's rape and murder

Tariq Butt / Agencies

A case was registered against Station House Officer (SHO) of the Shahzad Town police station of Islamabad Sub Inspector Muhammad Abbas Rana and other police officials on Wednesday in connection with the abduction, murder and alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl, Farishta, in the federal capital.

Ghulam Nabi, the victim's father, registered a first information report at the Shahzad Town police station on Wednesday under Section 166 (public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury to any person) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Nabi stated in the FIR that the victim's family had approached police a number of times for help finding Farishta, and to register an FIR against her disappearance, but instead of searching for the missing girl, the SHO told them she must have run away with someone.

Nabi alleged that instead of registering an FIR, police officials continued to provide clarifications and explanations. The father called for action to be taken against the SHO and other officials involved on grounds of negligence.

A four-day-old body recovered on Monday evening (May 20) is believed to be hers.

Farishta went missing from outside her home in Shahzad Town on May 15. A four-day-old body recovered on Monday evening (May 20) was identified as that of Farishta by her father, who recognised her by her clothes.

The results of a post-mortem examination conducted on Tuesday are awaited, and samples have also been taken for a DNA test to confirm the victim's identity.
Police said samples taken from the body and the site where Farishta was found are being tested to ascertain whether she was subjected to gang rape and torture, as alleged by the family.

The family registered a missing persons report on May 16, and an FIR was registered four days later on May 19 after the intervention of an MNA, who took up the case with Islamabad Inspector General of Police Mohammad Aamir Zulfikar Khan.

The family protested against alleged police inaction in Islamabad on Tuesday, and SHO Rana was suspended from duty in order to ensure a transparent inquiry into the case.

In a late night development, after negotiations between the family, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed, it was agreed that a case would be registered against the police officials responsible.

A senior police officer had said the FIR could be registered at any time against the SHO and the investigating officer on negligence charges.
Three people have been arrested so far, according to a statement issued by police. In addition, a committee headed by two superintendents of police has been formed to investigate the case.

Among others, celebrities also criticised how the culprits are still at large.

“Sick to my stomach. Stop sharing graphic images of the poor child. For Gods sake! Twitter is there not a way to disable people from uploading such content online?” Mahira Khan wrote.

“If we claim that we derive our constitution from Quran, then demons like Zainab/Farishta’s rapists/murderers guilty of Fasaad fil Ardh should be killed in a “PAINFUL MANNER” (example Stoned to Death or crucifixion till death). May Allah help us all,” the actor-turned-activist Hamza Ali Abbasi shared.

“I’m a citizen of the world and my homeland is Pakistan. I dwell in Lahore but I’m from all the provinces of Pakistan. My heart lives in KPK and FATA too,” singerJawad Ahmad tweeted. “I demand Justice For Farishta just as I did for Zainab. Rape is inexcusable. Her pic makes my heart bleed. Arrest and punish the culprits.”