The police have arrested a principal of a private school in Karachi on a charge of raping and blackmailing women, prompting Sindh IG Rafat Mukhtar to seek a report from the SSP Malir.
The suspect, who was identified as Irfan Ghafoor, used to blackmail female teachers and students after making their indecent videos with the help of CCTV, according to the police.
In a statement, Muktar said that the case would be taken to its logical conclusion ensuring impartial and transparent inquiry.
Over the past two days, some videos apparently linked to the incident went viral on social media. The investigation into the case led the police to the suspect.
But the suspect has a different story to share.
In an interview with Aaj News, Ghafoor rejected allegations that he has made such videos.
He admitted to committing indecent activities with women after bringing them into the school, but Ghafoor said: “I have not made any video.”
The suspect claimed to have been oblivious to the recorded videos and accused CCTV operator Ali Lodhi and Shakeel who allegedly hacked the videos.
He accused Lodhi of hacking the feed of cameras and making videos. He also accused the CCTV operator of blackmailing him as the latter had sought money from the former.
According to Ghafoor, Lodhi leaked the video viral after he did not pay the money.
Both the men were missing after the videos went viral on social media. The police were hunting for them and conducting raids for them.
The suspect was accused of harassing more than 25 teachers, staff, and other women, Malir SSP Hasan Sardar said. He claimed that a mobile phone recovered from the suspect’s possession contained dozens of indecent videos.
Sardar alleged that the suspect used to rape women on the pretext of a job and then he used to blackmail the women by showing the CCTV footage. He claimed that the suspect also used to record such videos.
At least five women survivors have so far been identified and they were being questioned to gather information.
Several complaints were registered against the suspect in the past as well, according to ARY News. The suspect was arrested with the help of society members. The police have claimed to have all the evidence against the school principal and a complaint would be registered against him.
A first information report was registered at Steel Town police station against the suspect under sections 376 (punishment for rape), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), and 509 (insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Sindh school education secretary.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the governor directed the Karachi additional inspector general to take action against those found guilty as per the law.
The Sindh Education and Literacy Department directed authorities to seal the school “immediately” and hold a probe into the matter, Dawn reported.
Sindh Education Minister Rana Hussain has taken notice of the event and sought a report from the director of the private schools. Additional Director Rafiya Mallah has formed a four-member committee to investigate the allegations.
The committee would present details of the matter after visiting the school. Further action would be taken on the recommendation of the committee.