Suspect admits raping, murdering minor niece in Rawalpindi

Tells court he was intoxicated when he committed the act

RAWALPINDI: A man, who is suspected of raping and killing his seven-year-old niece, left a courtroom shocked when he bluntly confessed to the crime.

Rawalpindi police on Saturday presented Waliullah, the paternal uncle of the seven-year-old girl whom he had raped and then murdered in Dhoke Chaudhrian early on Thursday, before Civil Judge Sameera Alamgir on Saturday.

At the outset of the hearing, which was supervised by duty judge Zaib Shehzad, Judge Alamgir asked the suspect whether he had committed the crime he is being accused of.

The suspect immediately responded in the affirmative.

Taken aback by the swiftness of the response, the court repeated the question and additionally asked whether he was fully in his senses and whether he was being coerced.

However, the suspect again admitted his involvement in the offence without batting an eyelid.

The court then announced a 30-minute recess to give the suspect a chance to reflect on his answers and the gravity of the situation.

When the court resumed and the question was posed for the third time, the suspect, like before, maintained the swiftness and directness of his answer.

Thereafter, the court started recording the formal statement of the suspect under Section 164. Waliullah went on to describe in detail how events had transpired. He stated that he was drunk and not in his senses when he entered the house and raped his niece. He further said that owing to the victim’s screams, he covered her face with a pillow. However, he said that she suffocated.

The post-mortem report of the victim confirmed Waliullah’s account.

The suspect asked for forgiveness from the victim’s family and that he was ready to face any punishment prescribed.

The investigation team sought a ten-day physical remand of the suspect, however, the court only granted a four-day physical remand and ordered the police to present Waliullah again on November 27.

CPO Faisal Rana, terming the case a test for the Rawalpindi police, directed the investigation team to submit a charge-sheet within 10 days. Police officials have also decided to refer the case to the model courts.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2019.