KARACHI: A sessions court has sentenced a man to seven years in prison for raping a minor boy.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (west) Irshad Hussain found Muhammad Atif guilty of subjecting the victim to a sexual assault within the jurisdiction of the Madina Colony police station in 2022.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 and in case of default the convict would have to undergo an additional six-month imprisonment.

The court also cancelled the bail of the convict and directed the police to take him into their custody and send him to the Karachi central prison to serve .

The court observed that the convict was not entitled to any leniency due to the nature of the crime.

“I am of the view that prosecution has successfully proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt as I found evidence and connected material shows that the victim was subjected to the act of sodomy which is punishable under Section 377 of PPC,” the court ruled.

The court also declared a co-accused proclaimed offender and directed that his case would be re-opened after his arrest.

According to the prosecution, a 12-year-old minor boy had gone outside to play with his friends but did not return. His father, who was the complainant, launched a search and then the boy was found near Haqqani Ground in Baldia Town. The survivor informed his father that three individuals took him to a plot where they raped him.

After registration of the case, the police arrested Atif and his medical examination was conducted.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024