UMERKOT: The court of additional district and sessions judge on Wednesday sentenced accused Aijaz Usman Mangrio to life imprisonment after having found him guilty of rape with a minor girl committed five years ago.

The case of rape of the five-year-old girl was initially lodged against unknown culprits by the victim’s uncle at Pithoro police station on Dec 2, 2012. Police later arrested a suspect and then SSP Riaz Soomro produced him as the suspected rapist before media persons. But the complainant and heirs of the victim rejected the arrest and informed the court that Mangrio was the rapist whose guesthouse was located close to the crime scene where gambling and consumption of alcohol were common.

The case drew attention of the then chief minister as well as Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after which it was assigned to DIG Sanaullah Abbasi to conduct probe on scientific lines.

The prosecution proved the charge of sexual assault against the accused after the victim identified Mangrio as her tormentor during an identification parade. On Dec 8, lawyers of both sides finalised their arguments and the court reserved the verdict, fixing the date of announcement on Dec 19.

The victim’s parents said that they were thankful to judiciary and media who fought the case relentlessly and served justice to their innocent girl.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2018