DNA report ‘clears judge of rape charges’

A civil judge accused of raping a woman in his judicial chamber in Sehwan has reportedly been cleared by the DNA report from a forensic laboratory.

The report, submitted to the Jamshoro police by the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences forensic laboratory on Monday, found the DNA samples given by alleged victim to match those of her husband. The woman had accused the judge, Imtiaz Hussain Bhutto, of raping her in his chambers on January 13.

After delaying the test for months, citing lack of trust in laboratories, Bhutto had provided his DNA samples on August 21. The police had also claimed he was not cooperating in the investigation.

An FIR had been registered on the state's behalf with the Sehwan police, following which Bhutto, while suspended, remained free on bail.

The woman later retracted her accusations during a hearing on March 20, stating she had made the allegation out of fear that Bhutto would send her back to her family.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2020.