KARACHI: A sessions court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 10-year imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl.

The convict, Ghulam Kabir alias Rajoo, was found guilty of attempting to rape the minor girl in a Korangi area on June 4, 2016.

On Tuesday, Additional District and Sessions Judge-XI (East) Mushtari Khanum pronounced her verdict reserved earlier after recording the evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The court also ordered the convict to pay a fine of Rs20,000. In case of default, he would undergo an additional three-month imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, the accused had lured the minor girl to his house in the same neighbourhood and attempted to rape her. However, neighbours gathered after hearing her hue and cry and saved the child.

The victim’s mother lodged an FIR against the accused, then aged 24. He was arrested on the same day.

Later, the investigation officer submitted a progress report in the trial court. Subsequently, the court indicted Kabir, but he pleaded not guilty and opted to contest.

During the trial, the prosecution produced 10 witnesses including the child, the complainant, a woman medico-legal officer and police officials.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018