Victims appear before judge in couple harassment case

Victim says didn't give statement to police on July 8, was asked to sign on blank paper by the inspector

ISLAMABAD:

The couple who was allegedly tortured and stripped by accused Usman Mirza and his accomplices appeared before a district and sessions judge in Islamabad on Wednesday, a day after the court issued arrest warrants against them for skipping proceedings.

The accused had been booked and indicted after they were arrested for stripping the couple naked, torturing them in Sector E-11 of Islamabad, and later uploading their video on social media in July last year.

In a previous hearing, the victims had retracted their earlier statement and said the police submitted the statement on their behalf. They had also refused to recognise the prime accused and his accomplices.

As Judge Atta Rabbani resumed the proceedings today, he said the viral video should be played in the courtroom. At this, the hearing was converted to an in-camera session and journalists and irrelevant people were asked to leave the room.

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During the hearing, Asad, one of the victims, said he had an intermediate degree. "I used to deal in real estate but after the video went viral, I am not able to work as a property dealer anymore," he said, adding that he was living off his parents because of unemployment.

"I visited Golra police station four or five times in connection with this case," he said, adding that he did not record a statement on July 8. "I was asked to sign on a blank paper by Inspector Shafqat," he added.

During the cross-examination, the prosecutor asked him that as per his affidavit the suspects in the video were not Mirza and his accomplices. "Can you tell what happened on that day," the lawyer questioned.

"Yes, I remember the details of the incident but I cannot divulge them to you at present," Asad said, adding that he couldn't remember the colour of shirts he and the other victim were wearing. The prosecutor also cross-examined the girl during the in-camera hearing after which the judge adjourned the case.