ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has set aside the conviction of a man sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping and raping a young girl, citing serious procedural flaws, unreliable witness accounts, and mishandling of forensic evidence.

In a detailed 10-page judgement authored by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, the court acquitted Shalim Ghauri, who was sentenced by an Additional Sessions Judge to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. The sentence also included an additional six-month imprisonment in case of non-payment.

The IHC observed that the prosecution failed to meet the legal standards required in cases involving severe punishments. “Discrepancies regarding the safe custody and timely transfer of forensic evidence clearly affect the credibility of the prosecution,” the judgement stated, adding that preservation of forensic material is a “basic requirement” in criminal cases where the death penalty or life imprisonment is a possibility.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2025