The police on Friday arrested key suspect in Farishta murder case, who was revealed to be the minor girl’s neighbour.
On June 3, a report compiled by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) on the rape-and-murder of 10-year-old Farishta stated that no DNA was found on samples from her body or clothes. The report was sent to the authorities in Islamabad, police sources said.
Reportedly, the DNA from 12 suspects was taken verified in the case and related probe and almost 150 suspected individuals were questioned. Islamabad Police had said that DNA tests showed that Farishta was not raped before being murdered.
The body of the minor girl child was found from a forest in the federal capital’s Shahzad Town area. According to police, the suspect tried to rape the child but upon resistance, gravely wounded her with a knife. Police further added that Farishta died due to excessive bleeding.
On May 22, Islamabad Police arrested a close relative of Farishta, besides registering a case against three police officials for showing negligence in the case.
A first information report (FIR) was also registered against the Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Abbas Rana and other officers.
Ghulam Nabi, Farishta’s father, registered the FIR at the Shahzad Town police station under Section 166 (public servant disobeying the law with intent to cause injury to any person) of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the FIR, when Farishta’s family members visited the police station to report the missing girl, the SHO, instead of cooperating, alleged that she had “eloped with someone”.
Nabi also alleged that instead of registering an FIR, police officials continued to provide clarifications and explanations. Police also arrested two suspects on May 21 in connection with the case.
The girl went missing on May 15, said her father Gul Nabi, adding that they approached the police fearing she had been abducted after they were unable to find her, but the police refused to register an FIR.
