Relatives of child rape victim being pressured

Relatives of nine-year-old rape victim Shahezadi are being forced to enter into an out-of-court settlement, Minute Mirror learnt on Tuesday.

According to sources, Shehzadi, a resident of Garro town of district Thatta, was subjected to sexual assault by two men identified as Ibrahim and Ramu Memon in a deserted area of the locality after being kidnapped from outside her house on Sunday. The suspects left her in a dazed state and she was later found by her relatives after a hectic search. Thereafter she was rushed to a government health facility where doctors confirmed the sexual assault on her.

According to the initial medical report, the victim had marks of violence on her body and some blood stains on her clothes as well.

After the necessary formalities, a case of the incident was registered at the local police station under relevant provisions of Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the police were successful in arresting the accused nominated in the FIR.

The father of the rape victim told local reporters on Tuesday that him and his other family members were being pressurized to settle the issue out of the court for a sum of Rs500,000 but he would not bend his knees. He added that the accused had the patronage of a few influential persons in the area who did not want the accused to be punished by the court of law. He demanded a fair trial from the higher authorities and protection for his family.