LAHORE: A senior Pakistani investigator who is part of the team carrying out a manhunt for suspects in the recent gang rape of a mother said on Monday the main suspect in the case had escaped being caught during a police raid because media furor alerted him to police zeroing in.
Protests were held in several Pakistani cities over the weekend over the handling of the investigation into the gang rape of a mother traveling with her children on a highway last Tuesday, as police launched a manhunt for the suspects which they said they had identified through DNA tracing.
Punjab’s Inspector General of Police Inam Ghani said at a press conference on Saturday that police had used cell phone data to track 27-year-old suspect Abid Ali and carried out raids at a village near Punjab’s Sheikhupura district to arrest him.
Prior to the raid, local media channels began running Ali’s photos and other identification documents, which tipped him off and he fled, a senior official who is a part of the team leading the manhunt told Arab News.
“If the media had not run off with the news provided by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency about the suspect, we would have caught him,” the official, who requested anonymity, said. “We missed him by mere seconds.”
He also blamed the Punjab police for prematurely sharing the names and photos of the suspects with the media.
The IG’s office and the spokesperson for the Punjab police did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment for this piece. Shehzada Sultan, Deputy Inspector General Investigations, and Zeeshan Asghar, Senior Superintendent Police Investigation, who are on a six-member investigation team commissioned for the rape case, could also not be reached.
For his part, IG police Ghani has held the media responsible for “alerting” the suspect.
“Unfortunately, since this [information about the suspect] had come out in the public domain, the suspect knew we were getting close,” Ghani told reporters.
Police say the woman, believed to be in her thirties, was traveling from Lahore to Gujranwala, main cities in Pakistan’s populous Punjab province, on Tuesday night when her car ran out of fuel.
She phoned police for help, but before they arrived two men took her and her children out of the vehicle at gunpoint and raped her beside the highway.
'Missed by seconds': Investigator says media furor tipped off suspect in Pakistan rape case
https://arab.news/rxee7
'Missed by seconds': Investigator says media furor tipped off suspect in Pakistan rape case
- Prior to police raid in a village this weekend, local media channels began running Abid Ali’s photos and identification documents, which led him to flee
- Member of investigation team blames Punjab police for prematurely sharing names and photos of suspects with media
Pakistan, Oman navies hold bilateral exercise to strengthen maritime security cooperation
- Royal Navy of Oman flotilla arrives in Karachi for annual Thamar Al Tayyib exercise, says Pakistan Navy
- Both navies’ personnel held professional dialogues, exchanged experiences during exercise, says navy
ISLAMABAD: A Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) flotilla visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise, the Pakistan Navy said on Saturday, with both sides aiming to enhance maritime security cooperation.
Pakistan Navy and the RNO have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980. TAT-2023 was conducted in Omani waters in December 2023.
The 12th edition of the exercise saw the participation of RNO vessels Al-Rasikh and Al-Shinas, which were part of the flotilla. Upon their arrival at the port in Karachi, the Omani vessels were warmly received in a ceremony attended by senior officials of the Pakistan Navy.
“Exercise TAT-2025 served as an important platform for mutual learning, enhanced interoperability and professional development,” the navy said.
It said the flotilla’s visit included meetings with senior members of the Pakistan Navy leadership, onboard receptions and visits to key naval installations and training facilities.
Personnel from both navies engaged in professional dialogues, operational discussions and exchanged experiences across various maritime domains, the navy added.
The Omani flotilla’s visit concluded with naval ships from both forces conducting advanced operational maneuvers and joint exercises encompassing major facets of modern maritime warfare.
“Pakistan Navy remains committed to fostering regional maritime cooperation and strengthening ties with partner navies worldwide,” the navy said.
“The Royal Navy of Oman’s participation in TAT-2025 reflects the growing defense partnership between the two friendly nations and their shared resolve to promote regional peace, stability, and maritime collaboration,” it added.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with Gulf nations, including Oman. The Pakistan Army, navy and air force regularly organize and participate in international exercises to strengthen defense ties with other countries, particularly those in the Middle East.
