Brothers acquitted in Quetta video scandal

Court emphasises that prosecution failed to substantiate scandal case against accused, leading to their acquittal

QUETTA:

In a notable development, a local court in Quetta has acquitted key accused Hidayat Khilji and his brother Khalil Khilji in the infamous video scandal case.

The arrest of the two brothers had occurred over two years ago, with allegations of producing explicit videos of girls in the Marriabad Nichari area of the provincial capital.

Both the accused had vehemently denied the charges. The District and Sessions Judge in Quetta on Tuesday pronounced their acquittal in the case involving blackmail and the creation of indecent videos of girls in the Quaidabad area.

The court emphasized that the prosecution failed to substantiate the video scandal case against the accused, leading to their acquittal.

Read Protesters demand removal of SALU VC over video scandal

The Judicial Magistrate 7 had previously delivered a verdict on October 11 last year, sentencing Hidayatullah and Khalil to three years in prison and imposing a fine of five lakh rupees.

Challenging the trial court’s decision, the accused approached the Session Court in Quetta, where lawyer Ayaz Zahoor highlighted the rejection of the trial court’s judgment. It is essential to note that Judicial Magistrate-7 had already given a verdict in the case of creating an obscene video on October 11 last year.

The accusations against the brothers included imprisoning a girl in their house and filming her. Furthermore, additional indecent videos of girls were reportedly recovered from the accused during the investigation.

The video scandal had triggered widespread protests in Quetta, with members of civil society and political parties demanding exemplary punishment for the accused. Allegations of the girl being forced into prostitution by the two brothers added fuel to the public outcry.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2024.