Karachi court awards life term to man for raping teenage niece over two years

A sessions court in Karachi has handed down a life sentence to a man for sexually assaulting his teenage niece.

The victim, who lives with her mother and siblings, had filed a complaint on May 2, 2021, at the New Karachi Industrial Area, stating that during her mother’s absence, her maternal uncle, Naseeb Gull, repeatedly abused her over a period of time.

Additional Sessions Judge (Central) Mirza Tauseef Ahmed issued the verdict after hearing evidence and arguments from state prosecutor Hina Naz Shams and the defense counsel.

In addition to the life sentence, the court ordered the convict to pay a fine of Rs100,000, with a one-year additional imprisonment if he fails to pay.

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“The victim is a girl under 18 years of age. Both her testimony and medical evidence confirm repeated sexual assaults by her maternal uncle,” the judge stated.

He further emphasised that “the nature of the offence, the victim’s age, and the familial relationship fall under Section 376(3) of the Pakistan Penal Code, which mandates stricter punishment for rape of a minor.”

The judge also highlighted the social stigma faced by sexual assault survivors: “Victims often bear the burden of shame despite being innocent. It is unreasonable to assume the allegations were fabricated at someone else’s behest, as claimed by the accused.”