LAHORE, July 12: The Federal Shariat Court on Tuesday acquitted a convict in a rape case due to lack of direct evidence. The court observed that an accused could not be convicted on the basis of the statement of the rape victim when direct evidence was missing. One Arif of Sargodha, who had been awarded imprisonment by trial court, submitted in his appeal that he had been extending financial support to the family of the victim girl as the head of her family was an addict.

He further submitted that the complainant, Mariam, had eloped with him and both of them started living in Mianwali. Later, she returned to her home and he discontinued the financial support to the family, upon which the girl’s mother lodged a Hudood case against him, he submitted.—APP