PESHAWAR: A child protection court has rejected bail plea of an accused charged with sexually assaulting his mentally-challenged daughter.

Judge Ms Wadeeya Mushtaq ruled that the accused named Asghar did not deserve to be extended the concession of bail.

Local police had registered an FIR against the petitioner on Oct 27, 2020, under section 376 (rape) of Pakistan Penal Code, following which he was arrested.

The case was registered on the complaint of a woman who claimed that her 14-year-old daughter was mentally challenged. She alleged that her husband (petitioner) had sexually assaulted the girl and impregnated her.

The state prosecutor contended that the petitioner was charged for a non-bailable offence and was involved in a heinous crime carrying punishment of death or life imprisonment. He contended that he was charged by his wife and there was no mala fide on her part.

He contended that the medical report of the victim girl also supported the prosecution’s case.

Meanwhile, the court dismissed bail petition of another accused charged with sexually abusing a minor boy of eight.

Police had arrested the accused-petitioner after registration of an FIR against him at Khazana police station on Sept 18, 2020, under section 377 (unnatural offence) of the PPC. The case was registered after complaint was lodged by father of the victim child.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2021