Rawalpindi: Academy principal arrested for raping Matric student under false promise of marriage

The principal of an academy in Rawalpindi has been arrested for allegedly raping a 10th-grade student under the pretext of marriage, according to authorities.

Pirwadhai police registered a case following a complaint filed by the student, who resides in the Khayaban-e-Syed area of Pirwadhai Town. The FIR alleged that the academy principal, Ziaur Rehman, repeatedly raped her and forced her to undergo an abortion.

Federal Minister for Human Rights, Azam Nazir Tarar, called for an “immediate and transparent” investigation into the incident.

A statement from his office said the minister directed authorities to ensure justice for the student at all costs, including the immediate arrest of the accused and submission of a detailed report on the case.

The victim alleged that while she was in the tenth grade, the childless principal offered her marriage.

When she asked him to speak with her parents, he reportedly promised to help her achieve good marks in the matriculation examination and persuaded her into physical relations.

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She claimed that the principal raped her in his office, and when she became pregnant, he provided abortion pills instead of marrying her.

The FIR further stated that the accused continued the assaults over time, causing a second pregnancy. When the student insisted on marriage, he allegedly refused and subjected her to torture.

Under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code, rape carries a punishment of death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment ranging from 10 to 25 years, along with a fine.