Lower Dir judge sent on one-day remand in sexual assault case

Victim records statement after medical exam confirms attack

LOWER DIR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police on Saturday obtained a physical remand of Lower Dir’s Senior Civil Judge Jamshed Kundi for another day in a sexual assault case.

According to police, Judge Kundi was produced before a judicial magistrate again after his one-day remand expired.

The victim, a resident of Peshawar’s Nishtarabad area, also recorded her statement after initial medical examination of the woman confirmed the sexual assault.

Later, she was sent to Darul Aman, a sanctuary for women who have lost familial protection or been rendered destitute.

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The unfortunate incident took place on November 25 at Judge Kundi’s official residence.

According to the FIR, the judge had asked for a bribe amounting to Rs1.5 million for providing the victim’s sister a job three months ago.

The victim, in her statement, added that she paid the equivalent amount in jewelry but Judge Kundi was unable to secure a job for her sister.

She added that the judge contacted her on November 20 and asked to accompany him to Lower Dir to collect the jewels for which they both travelled in Judge Kundi’s official car.

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After reaching his official residence, the complainant said, Judge Kundi told her that he would return the jewels only if she agreed to have sex with him.

Upon her refusal, the judge sexually assaulted her.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court suspended Judge Kundi with immediate effect after he was nominated in case FIR no. 187 under section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The PHC registrar’s statement said the law would take its due course be it anybody accused of any offence. “PHC will continue to strive to uphold the rule of law.”