Rape-case police chief suspended in Pakistan

BBC News:

Authorities in Pakistan have suspended a police chief accused of ordering the rape of a married woman who was seeking the release of her detained husband.

Faisalabad police chief Khalid Abdullah was removed from his post after PM Shaukat Aziz ordered an inquiry into allegations against his department.

Mr Abdullah has denied any wrongdoing, accusing the woman of lying.

Hundreds of women are raped in Pakistan every year but only a fraction of the cases are reported.

The chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has asked for a full report from the provincial authorities to be given to him in 10 days.

The 23-year-old woman said she was kept in illegal confinement for 15 days and raped by a police officer as "punishment" for seeking to publicise the detention of her husband.

The officer accused of the crime was suspended on Tuesday.

The woman said Mr Abdullah had ordered her rape.

Pakistani woman says raped after parliament arrest