KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Monday remanded a suspect in judicial custody for sexually harassing a veiled woman when she was walking down a street near Manghopir Road within the jurisdiction of the Pak Colony police station.

The investigating offi­cer presented the suspect before the judicial magistrate (West), requesting an extension of his physical remand for further interrogation. However, the IO failed to produce a progress report before the court. He also informed that the suspect had no previous criminal record.

After the proceedings, the court refused to grant his police remand and sent him to prison till April 18.

According to the FIR, a complaint was lodged by a police inspector after receiving a video which captured an incident in which a man purportedly attempted to sexually harass a veiled woman passerby in a street.

Upon viewing the video, the police investigated the case and discovered that the alleged perpetrator was often seen there. They apprehended the suspect who confessed to his offence.

The CCTV footage shows the woman walking alone in a street when a man suddenly approaches her from behind, cornered and groped her before running away.

A case was registered at the Pak Colony police station under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2024