GILGIT: A harrowing case involving the rape of a 13-year-old disabled girl, which resulted in her pregnancy and subsequent death along with that of her unborn child, has culminated in a breakthrough arrest using DNA evidence.
The incident, which shocked Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), saw the girl pass away at a Gilgit hospital in July 2024 after suffering severe complications during pregnancy. The victim, from Yasin valley of district Ghizer in GB, had disabilities by birth, besides limited cognitive awareness. According to relatives, she would often wander unnoticed from her home due to her condition. Tragically, her parents—both deaf and unable to speak—faced immense challenges in seeking immediate help. “When I met the parents first in the hospital, I was shocked to see their disability and now had to endure this horrible incident,” a police investigator involved in the case told The News on Friday.
Following the tragedy, Yasin Police Station and Ghizer Police launched an intensive investigation, collecting DNA samples from multiple suspects. These samples were sent to a laboratory in Lahore for forensic analysis. Among nine individuals tested, the DNA of 50-year-old Muhammad Ayub, a resident of Yasin valley and the victim’s neighbour, reportedly matched the evidence from the crime scene. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to sexually assaulting the minor, according to police officials. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Gilgit Range, Mirza Hassan, hailed the arrest as a “breakthrough,” emphasizing the emotional toll the case had taken on investigators. “The incident was so tragic; it hurt us all. We had pledged to pursue the accused by all means necessary,” he told The News.
Hassan confirmed that Ayub was among the suspects whose DNA was tested, and his eventual confession solidified the case. The accused now faces charges under anti-rape and child protection laws. The case has reignited demands for stricter enforcement of justice in crimes against women and children, particularly in the remote regions. Activists, including Mushahid Bagoro, co-founder of the Human Rights Council Gilgit-Baltistan, were among those pushing for accountability. “We are really happy over the arrest of the culprit,” Bagoro told The News, while stressing the need for systemic reforms to protect the vulnerable communities.