New twist emerged in Islamabad’s Centaurus Mall rape case

ISLAMABAD: A new twist has emerged in Islamabad’s Centaurus Mall rape case, as police expand the scope of the investigation following contradictions in the statements of the victim and the accused.

According to DIG Islamabad Jawad Tariq, the victim met the accused in a spa, contrary to earlier claims.

Initial investigation suggests that the victim informed police that the accused had taken her mobile phone and later called her on the pretext of returning it, during which the alleged rape occurred.

However, the FIR presents a different version, stating that the accused had called the woman on the pretext of offering her a job in a call centre.

DIG Jawad said that all aspects are being medically examined, and the investigation will proceed based on forensic evidence, witness statements, and scene analysis.

Earlier on Wednesday, Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas granted a three-day physical remand of two suspects to the Margalla police, arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a woman inside a flat located in Centaurus Mall.

Police told the court that the suspects had confessed to the crime.

The FIR, registered on the complaint of the victim woman, stated that she had recently arrived in Islamabad from her village in search of employment. She told the police that she had been looking for a job in a call centre through Facebook.

In her statement, the woman alleged that on October 21, a man called her to a private shopping mall for a job interview. Once there, she was taken to a flat in the mall by another man.

The complainant stated that during the meeting, the two men suddenly assaulted and raped her, subjecting her to physical violence, including slaps and punches.