Rawalpindi-A young girl, who had become pregnant at 13 years of age after been raped allegedly by a local leader of the ruling party on gunpoint, appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar to provide her speedy justice, saying her family was being threatened of dire consequences by the accused.

The victim stated that her family had been contemplating to take refuge somewhere out of Taxila after being denied speedy justice and losing all their savings, shelter and source of earning. She said that she and her family were continuously being harassed by the accused, who, she alleged, was now threatening to throw acid on her.

Talking to The Nation, Halima, daughter of Sajid, said that she had been raped by Ashfaq, a local leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), at gunpoint at his home in Barhama Bahter area in June 2015 after which she got pregnant. She said that Ashfaq arranged for her to abort the foetus in Wah Cantt after bribing a lady doctor. She said that Police Station Wah Saddar had registered a rape case against Ashfaq on her complaint. However, Ashfaq along with his brothers Amir and Asif abducted Ghulam Farid, a relative of the victim’s mother, and stripped him naked besides torturing him to make him confess before the police that he (Farid) had raped the victim.  The police had also registered another case against the accused, she said. She stated that a court of law had granted bails to all the accused due to wrong investigation.

Halima said that her rape case was being heard in the court of Additional and Session Judge Arshad Mehmood Jasra for the last two and half years but she was not being provided with justice. Halima appealed to the chief justice to take notice of her ordeal and provide her with speedy justice.

Nasir Bilal Advocate, the defence counsel, confirmed that the victim girl was being threatened and harassed by the accused. He said that so far, 12 prosecution witnesses had been produced before the court. Of 12, he said, 11 had been cross examined while Investigation Officer Zarahat was yet to be cross examined.

The defence counsel said that the opponent party had allegedly been using delaying tactics to prolong the case. He alleged that the police favoured the accused lady doctor Talat Khurram during investigation that led to her bail. He said that the accused party was trying to approach the judge to give verdict in their favour.  Nasir said that the court would take up Halima rape case today (Thursday) again during which he would cross examine Zarahat.

All the accused in the case have been granted bails by the court.