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A Lahore court on Wednesday handed a four-day physical remand of a suspended assistant sub-inspector (ASI) to police for further investigation into the alleged rape of a mentally challenged young woman inside Ghaziabad Police Station. The suspect, identified as suspended ASI Imran, was presented before Judicial Magistrate Iram Yousaf by the investigating team. Police requested a 14-day physical remand, stating that further custody was necessary to collect evidence and complete the investigation into the alleged sexual assault. After hearing the arguments, the court approved a four-day physical remand instead of the two-week period sought by investigators. The suspect will remain in police custody while investigators continue gathering evidence and recording statements. The case has sparked widespread concern after authorities alleged that the incident occurred within the premises of a police station. Following the allegations, Lahore police suspended the entire staff of Ghaziabad Police Station, citing administrative failures, negligence and poor supervision. According to the first information report (FIR), the case was registered on August 3 under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with rape, along with Section 155C of the Police Order 2002 concerning misconduct by police officials. The complaint was filed by the victim’s father. Police officials said senior officers immediately took notice of the incident after the FIR was registered. The accused officer was arrested, while departmental action was initiated against police personnel responsible for supervising the station. In a separate disciplinary move, authorities suspended 78 police officials posted at the station, holding them accountable for negligence and failure to ensure proper oversight. According to the complainant, his mentally challenged daughter, believed to be around 19 or 20 years old, left home on the afternoon of August 3 and did not return for several hours. During the search, a local resident allegedly informed the family that a policeman in plain clothes had taken the young woman away. The victim’s father said he rushed to the police station, where he was told that his daughter had already gone home. When the family returned, they found her distressed and crying. He alleged that his daughter told them she had been taken to the police station by a police officer and sexually assaulted. Following her statement, the family approached authorities and sought legal action against the accused officer.

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate in Karachi has granted investigators additional time to complete the investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy case. The court extended the deadline until August 9 and directed the investigating officer to submit a complete report at the next hearing. During the proceedings, the investigating officer informed the court that the inquiry was still in progress and requested more time to finalize the investigation. He said responses from several government departments had been collected, but information from some key institutions was still awaited. The court was told that six government departments had already submitted their replies to investigators. However, responses from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Water Corporation had not yet been received, preventing the investigation from being completed. The investigating officer requested that the court allow additional time so that all pending replies could be included in the final investigation report. The court accepted the request and granted an extension until August 9. The magistrate directed the investigating officer to complete all remaining inquiries before the next hearing and submit a comprehensive report covering all aspects of the case. The court stressed the importance of ensuring that the investigation is thorough and based on complete information from all relevant departments. The Gul Plaza tragedy case has remained under investigation as authorities continue collecting evidence and official records from various institutions. Investigators are examining the role of different departments and reviewing all available documents before reaching their final conclusions.

Lahore : The administration of Punjab University has taken a significant step by forming a three-member inquiry committee to investigate multiple complaints submitted against the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Khurram Shehzad. The committee has been constituted with the approval of the Vice Chancellor and has been directed to complete its investigation within one week and submit a detailed report along with recommendations. According to official documents, the inquiry committee comprises Dr Nadir Shah, Dr Imtiaz Shafiq, and the Deputy Registrar (Administration). The committee will review the complaints, examine relevant records, assess available evidence and record statements from concerned individuals before finalising its findings. Sources said that Khurram Shehzad has been serving as PRO on additional charge for several years. During this period, several faculty members reportedly submitted written complaints to the Vice Chancellor, alleging concerns regarding the use of official authority and the handling of administrative responsibilities. The complaints reportedly include allegations relating to misuse of official resources, administrative conduct, procedural issues and other matters connected with the performance of duties. The allegations, however, will be subject to verification by the inquiry committee. The Vice Chancellor has directed the committee to conduct a transparent review and submit its findings within the stipulated timeframe, after which any further administrative action will be considered in light of the inquiry report. The formation of the committee has attracted attention within academic and administrative circles, with university stakeholders awaiting the outcome of the investigation.