A gender-based violence court in Lahore on Tuesday handed life imprisonment and Rs500,000 in fine to a man convicted of raping a six-year-old girl.

The court — constituted specifically to deal with child abuse cases — stated in its judgement that Qari Mohammad Shahbaz was accused of raping the child, and a first information report (FIR) of the incident was registered at the Gulshan-e-Ravi Police Station, following which the victim's statement was recorded before the court.

"Prosecution proved their case and the accused, Qari Shahbaz, is convicted to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs500,000," additional sessions judge Rehmat Ali said in the verdict.

The judgement further said that the convict's sentence could be extended by an additional six months, if he fails to submit the fine.

The gender-based violence court is a collaboration of Asian Development Bank and the Lahore High Court.