A district and sessions court in Rawalpindi on Thursday awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs0.1 million to a man for kidnapping and raping a college girl.
The convict was awarded 10 years of imprisonment on rape charges and life imprisonment on kidnapping.
The court also awarded the convict 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 on rape charges. The convict would undergo year imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine amount.
The court acquitted four co-suspects, Maryam Idrees, Owais, Owais Khokar and Naveed, giving them the benefit of doubt.
The convict, Faisal Bilal, had kidnapped a second-year student, S*, on September 5, 2019, while she was going to her college before raping her. Soon after the verdict, the police arrested the prime suspect from the courtroom.
In its verdict, Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan said that rape was a heinous crime and no criminal can be given concession in such cases.
The court said that even a little leniency to the suspect can prove dangerous for society.
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Talking to the media after the verdict, the victim said she has been dispensed justice. However, she said that all such cases should have a quick trial.
Human Rights Association Secretary Tayabba Abbasi said that offenders in such heinous crimes do not deserve leniency.
She said that the government should give capital punishment to the suspects involved in kidnapping and molestation.
Meanwhile, Gujar Khan police have arrested three members of the Alya gang involved in many incidents of street crimes.
According to the police, the suspects used to snatch mobile phones and cash from the citizens on motorcycles. They had also carried out several robberies, the police officials said.
They said that the gang members included ringleader Ali alias Alya, Irshad, and Ibrahim. The police have recovered two motorcycles, Rs 29,000, and arms from their possession.
Gujjar Khan Police Station Office said that the gang members have confessed to committing street crimes and robberies during the initial investigation. He said that the suspects have been moved to jail for the identification parade.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2021.
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