ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Raja Khurram Ali Khan has challenged allegations leveled against him in the minor maid abuse case.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), who is conducting the trial of the ADSJ and his spouse, on Friday issued notices to the police to submit their reply till May 5.

When the court initiated its proceedings, the accused were given copies of the challan submitted by the police.

After providing the accused with the copies of the challan the court was about to fix the date for indicting the ADSJ and his wife when the accused challenged the allegations.

At this stage, the parents of the minor maid once again submitted an affidavit pardoning the couple.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had earlier discarded such an affidavit.

In the affidavit, the girl’s father said due to poverty he had handed over his daughter to Mr Khan to bear her expenses.

He said on December 27, Mr Khan informed him that Tayyaba had gone missing.

He said the ADSJ had also registered a report in this regard. The allegations against Mr Khan and his wife are baseless and a conspiracy, he added.

“In the name of Allah I forgive Khurram and his wife and if they are acquitted I have no objections.” In the affidavit, the girl’s father also said he did not want to pursue the case.

The ADSJ and his wife are accused of torturing the juvenile maid and keeping her in an illegal confinement.

The police registered the case against the couple under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including sections 337, 342 and 506.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2017