A sessions court in Karachi has handed down a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to a man convicted of raping his daughter-in-law, highlighting the grim reality of sexual assault within familial settings.
The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Zabiha Khattak, who found Irshad Ali guilty of sexually assaulting his 19-year-old daughter-in-law in April 2023 within the jurisdiction of Bilal Colony police station. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the convict, with the stipulation that failure to pay would result in an additional six months of imprisonment.
In her ruling, Judge Khattak condemned the heinous act, emphasizing the betrayal of trust and the violation of sanctity perpetrated by the accused, who held a father-like position within the victim’s family. She underscored the urgent need for stringent measures to address such crimes and ensure the safety of women within their own homes, emphasizing the societal repercussions of such breaches of trust.
According to state prosecutor Hina Naz, the survivor testified in court that the accused assaulted her in her home while her husband and mother-in-law were absent. Despite threats of reprisal, she eventually confided in her mother about the ordeal, leading to the filing of a complaint under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
During the trial, the defence attempted to discredit the survivor’s testimony, but the court dismissed their arguments due to lack of substantial evidence. Moreover, the messages retrieved from the accused’s mobile phone, exchanged between him and the survivor, corroborated the victim’s account and underscored her efforts to salvage her matrimonial relations before seeking legal recourse.
The case serves as a sobering reminder of the prevalence of sexual violence within domestic settings and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable to ensure justice for survivors and deter future crimes.
