SUKKUR: A court on Monday remanded a feudal lord in judicial custody for allegedly settling a sexual assault case in a jirga.

Seven men were booked for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl after local political parties staged rallies and demanded legal action against the feudal lord and justice for the victim’s family.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar took notice of the incident on May 11.

On Sunday, Sardar Taj Mohammad Domki told a press conference at his residence in Kandhkot town that he had settled the gang-rape case in a jirga by imposing a fine of Rs1.8 million on the “real accused”.

He said that had he not intervened in the matter the girl would have not got justice from the courts. He claimed that the complainant, the victim’s father, would file an application in court to withdraw the case.

However, the Kandhkot police registered a case against Sardar Domki, the convener of the jirga, and 14 others at the C-Section police station.

The police arrested the jirga convener and produced him before the Kandhkot Civil Judge for remand. The court sent him to prison on 14-day judicial remand.

Meanwhile, Kandhkot SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro told Dawn that the FIR of the rape case was lodged on May 10 and as per the girl’s medical examination she was sexually assaulted 15 days ago.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017