Police include physical harm clauses in FIR against judge, wife

Obtain permission from magistrate to investigate child abuse case; IHC registrar submits inquiry report to CJ

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police Saturday included sections relating to causing physical harm in an FIR against a lower court judge and his wife over the alleged abuse of a minor girl recovered from their house.

Meanwhile, the police obtained permission from a magistrate to further investigate the case even as registrar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) submitted a confidential report to the court’s top judge for further action.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife were booked on December 29 for their alleged involvement in employing a child as a housemaid and keeping her in wrongful confinement, burning her hand over a missing broom, beating her with a ladle, detaining her in storeroom, and threatening her with dire consequences.

A subsequent medical report confirmed that the girl had suffered blunt force and burn injuries.

On Saturday, in line with the medical report of the 10-year-old housemaid T*, the police added sections 337-A (i) (punishment of causing physical harm) and 337-F (i) (punishment of causing harm) of the Pakistan Penal Code in the FIR.

The newly inserted PPC sections state that “whoever by doing any act with the intention of causing hurt to any person, or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause hurt to any person” is liable to get imprisonment of either a description for a term which may extend to two years and one year, respectively.

Inquiry report

On Saturday, the registrar of IHC submitted the “confidential” initial inquiry report into child abuse allegations against the lower court judge before IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi for further action.

Investigation

An official privy to investigations into the case revealed that the police on Saturday had obtained permission to investigate the suspects from Magistrate Amir Khalil.

Additionally, the official added that police wrote a letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) on Saturday, urging him to constitute a team comprising senior police officials to conduct an investigation into the case since it involves a judicial officer and his family.

Sources in police, however, said that despite obtaining permission from the magistrate and writing a letter for high-level investigation team, investigations could not start till they receive a reply from replies from the SSP and the outcome of an inquiry conducted by the IHC registrar is known, both of which are expected by January 2 (Monday).

Officials added that they would need permission from the IHC chief justice before arresting the judge.

*Name withheld to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2017.