PESHAWAR, Jan 5: A local court on Thursday dismissed the bail petition of a security guard charged with attempting to rape an American female official of an international humanitarian organization. The court of judicial magistrate, Shah Hussain, pronounced that the accused-petitioner, Hussain Ghulam, did not deserve to be extended the facility of bail.

The woman, Ms Rebecca, had lodged a complaint at the University Town Police Station on Dec 18, 2005, charging Mr Ghulam of attempting to rape her at her residence at the Jamaluddin Afghani Road.

Initially, an FIR was registered under section 18 of the Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979, read with section 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code. On Dec 23, 2005, additional sections were inserted in the FIR, including section 6 and 10 of the Hudood Ordinance, dealing with rape, and sections 521 and 522 of the PPC, dealing with house trespassing.

The accused, Mr Ghulam, is a security guard in a private security agency and was posted at the residence of Ms Rebecca.

The lady alleged that she was at her residence and was asked by her colleagues to visit the American Club in the evening. She added that she took a bath and when she came out of the bathroom, the accused entered her room and assaulted her.

Ms Rebecca alleged that she resisted the attempt and took refugee in the bathroom. When she came out, she claimed, the accused started requesting her not to tell anyone about the incident as he had made a mistake and his life would be ruined. She added that she called her colleagues as a result of which the security in charge of her organization, Asim Sahibzada, and her other colleagues reached her house.

Advocate Shamsul Haq appeared for the petitioner and argued that he was innocent and falsely implicated in the case. He contended that no medical examination of the woman was conducted to prove that she was sexually assaulted.

Mr Haq contended that the petitioner should not suffer merely for the reason that the complainant was an American lady. He stated that there were various flaws in the case as initially the case was registered under one section of the law, whereas five days after the occurrence the sections of the law were changed, which proved that the entire case was concocted.

Advocate Sohail Akhter appeared for the complainant and contended that the statement of the victim was sufficient for proving the guilt of the accused provided it corroborates other evidence on record.