MANSEHRA: The family of a seminary student, who was sexually assaulted by a cleric lately, has accused a JUI-F leader of forcing it for an out-of-court settlement.

“JUI-F leader Mufti Kifayatullah and his aides threatened us (family) with dire consequences if the assault case wasn’t settled out of court and even they offered money for the purpose, but we didn’t give in,” uncle of the assault victim Mohammad Iqbal told reporters in Terha area here on Saturday.

Adviser to the chief minister on population welfare Ahmad Hussain Shah met the family and gave away Rs100,000 cheque to it on behalf of the chief minister.

The child’s uncle demanded hanging of the assaulter in public saying such punishment will help check sexual assaults against children.

The chief minister’s adviser said the government was seriously working for the elimination of child abuse cases in the province.

“We have become a party to the seminarian assault case just to eliminate all possibilities of out-of-court settlement and make an example of the culprit through strict punishment,” he said.

Mr Shah said the government would provide the child with education and other facilities.

He said the government was working to strengthen the laws on child abuse to ensure that perpetrators don’t escape punishment.

Senior superintendent of police (investigation) Arif Javed, who is part of a joint investigation team formed for the seminarian assault case, said for the first time in the district, the police had taken all possible measures to expose the child abuser, including DNA test.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020