Sehwan judge booked in rape case

HYDERABAD: Jamshoro district police have booked a civil judge and judicial magistrate from Sehwan in an FIR on charges of rape.

The judge, Imtiaz Hussain Bhutto, was accused of raping a woman in his chamber. The case has been registered against him at Sehwan police station on the state’s behalf, with SHO Mazhar Ali Naich as the complainant, under Sections 376 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The registration of the FIR by Naich added to rumours that a clash between him and Bhutto preceded the alleged rape, in which the judge claimed he was being falsely implicated.

Prior to registering the case, the Jamshoro SSP formed an inquiry committee that once again recorded the statement of S*, the alleged victim. She reiterated her charges against Bhutto and demanded justice. Last week, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh suspended Bhutto on the grounds on misconduct.

The judge allegedly raped S when she came to court to provide a statement about her free-will marriage on January 13.

* INITIAL USED TO PROTECT IDENTITY 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2020.