November 16, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 17, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 15: The Peshawar High Court has granted bail to a man charged with raping a girl after the victim stated that the accused was now her husband.

A bench comprising Justice Jehanzeb Raheem accepted the bail petition of the accused and directed that he should furnish two sureties of Rs100,000 each.

The accused was arrested a few months ago after he was charged in an FIR registered at the Mingora police station in Swat on a complaint of the victim. The FIR was registered when the victim got pregnant.

The victim claimed in the FIR that she was alone at home when the accused, who was their distant relative, entered her house and sexually abused her.

She added that he threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about the occurrence.

Later, she alleged, the accused frequently visited her residence when nobody was around and used to rape her while threatening to remain silent otherwise she would be killed. She added that when she got pregnant she informed her parents about the issue.

Following arrest of the accused, both the families decided to arrange their marriage. While the accused was in prison the elders solemnised their nikah.

Petitioner’s counsel Noor Alam Khan contended that the two had got married. He added that the FIR was registered six months after the occurrence. Moreover, he maintained, it was never a case of rape.

The woman was also produced in the court who stated that the accused was her relative and since childhood their parents had engaged them to each other. She added that later differences developed between the two families and her parents were not willing for the marriage.

She stated that they liked each other and the accused used to visit her as a result of which got pregnant.

She added that she was forced by her family members to charge the accused with rape in the FIR. She added that the accused was now her husband and she had no objection over his release.