Paedophile suspect sent on judicial remand

Shahid Imran has been accused of molesting four children

LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday incarcerated a man accused of sexually abusing four minors in Hafizabad.

Chhani Hanjrawan resident Shahid Imran alias Chairman had been nominated in four FIRs by different sets of parents accusing him of having molested their children. An IO on Wednesday requested the magistrate to extend Imran’s remand in a bid to recover a pistol that the suspect had used to intimidate his victims. Turning down the request, the magistrate sent him on judicial remand.

Police have sent Imran and his victim’s samples for examination. ASI Ijaz Shah told The Express Tribune that police had recovered a mobile phone and a computer from the suspect. He said police had discovered various pictures and videos of him abusing children other than those of the complainants on his computer. Shah said no material of this sort had been found on his mobile phone. The official said one complainant had alleged that Imran had molested his son after abducting him. Shah said the complainant had also claimed that he had filmed the episode. He said the suspect used to threaten other children by showing similar photos and footage. Shah said two of Imran’s victims were siblings. He said the suspect had not confessed. The official said there could be a sectarian angle to the crimes but it was premature to comment on it.

Shah said the suspect ran a grocery store and a billiard and video game shop. He said it had been alleged that he used to lure unsuspecting children frequenting the video game shop and assault them. While the official said he was yet to confess, a policeman from the Wanike Tarar police station told The Express Tribune that he had admitted to being involved in 40 instances of molestation.

Advocate Hammad Ahmed, also a resident of Chhani Hanjrawan, told The Express Tribune that Imran was a serial paedophile.

He said he had been attacked by villagers several times for indulging in immoral acts. Ahmed said shame had been preventing people from alerting police on this account. He said some had begun reporting cases with the passage of time.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.