GUJAR KHAN: The parents of minors, who allegedly suffered sexual assault at the hands of a seminary teacher in Jhelum district, on Sunday requested an additional sessions judge to exempt their children from medical examination.

While granting the request, it was ordered that the children’s belongings and clothing will be forensically tested, according to SHO Dina Sub-Inspector Ehsan Shah.

SHO Shah also said that three victims of assault and seven victims of attempted abuse had recorded their statements under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Dina police had registered a case of sexual assault against a seminary teacher, who was accused by a parent of one of his students of abusing his son and two other pupils.

The victim’s father had approached police to register a case on Friday night.

Police say accused seminary teacher will be taken for DNA screening today

According to his account, his 14-year-old son had been attending Jamia Dar-ul-Quran seminary for seven years and was memorizing the Holy Quran under the tutelage of the accused teacher.

The complainant reported that his son experienced a distressing incident of sexual assault within a room connected to the seminary.

According to the first information report (FIR), it was alleged that the cleric had also assaulted two other students on multiple occasions, even during the holy month of Ramazan.

The students involved are said to be aged between 11 and 19.

Following the complaint, Dina arrested the accused and registered a case under sections 376 (iii) and 377-B of the Pakistan Penal Code.

SHO Shah told Dawn that the case had been taken up by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of police and samples had been collected by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).

He said that the accused would be taken to PFSA in Lahore on Monday for DNA screening and the results would be tallied with the forensic reports of the belongings gathered from the room where the crime was allegedly committed.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Out of control
Updated 19 Feb, 2025

Out of control

AS bodies continue to fall in Kurram despite a state-sanctioned ceasefire, one wonders how long local militants’...
Hollow words
19 Feb, 2025

Hollow words

IT is not uncommon for politicians to resort to the use of hyperbole in order to boost their public standing. ...
Migration matters
19 Feb, 2025

Migration matters

THE grass, it seems, did appear greener on the other side to millions of people as evidenced by the latest UN ...
Cholistan project
Updated 18 Feb, 2025

Cholistan project

GPI goals align with Pakistan's broader economic aims but the manner in which the initiative was launched raises questions.
Right to know
18 Feb, 2025

Right to know

IT is an unfortunate paradox that while on paper Pakistan has some of the most impressive right to information laws,...
Dam dispute
18 Feb, 2025

Dam dispute

THE situation in Chilas needs attention and a fair-minded approach so that it can be resolved amicably. Diamer ...