MANSEHRA: An anti-terrorism court in Abbottabad on Monday extended the physical remand of three people suspected of raping an FSc student in Mansehra for 10 days.

Suspects Qari Naseer, Mohammad Faizan and Mohammad Hussain were shifted from Mansehra to Abbottabad in an armoured personnel carrier escorted by police vehicles.

After hearing arguments of prosecutor Shahzad Iqbal in the rape case, ATC judge Anwar Ali handed over the suspects to police on physical remand for 10 more days.

The suspects will be produced in the court on May 30 after expiry of the remand.

Sub-inspector Gul Mohammad, investigation officer in the case, said police were investigating if the suspects were part of a gang and were involved in other rape cases and therefore, they sought extension in their physical remand.

He said a woman, who was suspected of being part of the crime, was not produced before the court and that a separate application would be filed with the judge for her production and once the orders were issued, she would be produced before the court.A day after the FSc student was raped, a local court had remanded suspects into police custody for four days.

Meanwhile, federal religious affairs minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf on Monday visited the rape victim`s house and sympathisedwith her family.

`We`ll ensure speedy dispensation of justice to the girl at all costs,` he said.

The minister said the federal government was committed to checking violence against children and women in the country by guaranteeing their exemplary punishment.

Also in the day, students of different schools took out a rally in the city to protest the rape. Holding banners and placards, protesters gathered at the Karakoram Highway and demanded public hanging of rapists.

BAN ON TENT VILLAGES LIFTED: Mansehra deputy commissioner Zulfiqar Shah on Monday ordered the immediate end to the ban on tent villages in Naran area of Kaghan valley.

The local administration had earlier banned the establishment of such villages put up for tourists citing multiple problems, including insecurity, as reason.

`We don`t want to deprive you of livelihood opportunities, so ban on tent villages has been lifted with immediate effect,` Mr Shah told office-bearers of the Naran Tent Villages Association during a meeting here.

The deputy commissioner urged tent village owners to ensure provision of lowpriced night stay facilities to tourists, saying it would help visitors have a memorable trip to the valley, a heaven on the earth.

MPA Nargis Bibi, who was also in attendance, said the lifting of ban on tent villages would benefit local residents by offering good livelihood opportunities.