Victim’s father ‘pardons’ rape suspect

Sources claim police pressure played its part in downplaying matter

HARIPUR:

After the incident of the attempted rape of a 13-year-old child by a religious seminary teacher surfaced in Hattar, the victim’s father reached Haripur from Peshawar and took his child back to his hometown.

According to sources, after the alleged attempt to molest a child in a religious seminary situated within the limits of Hattar Police Station went viral on social media, the police swung into action and initiated action against the suspect. However, when the victim’s father came to know about the incident, he told the police that his child had accused his teacher because he did not want to study in that seminary.

“He has complained several times before that he is fed up with this seminary. Since he does not want to study in this seminary, so we have no claim against the teacher. I am taking my child out of this seminary and will admit him to another seminary in Peshawar,” the complainant said in his statement.

Meanwhile, sources said that the police had informed the child's father after the arrest of the suspect who reached the police station under pressure and changed his statement and thus the police played a traditional role in brushing the issue under the carpet.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2023.