Rapist appeal against life term rejected

A Division Bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) Multan Bench on Thursday turned down an appeal of a convict, who had drugged and raped a girl repeatedly after taking her pictures and upheld the life imprisonment awarded to him by the trial court.

The bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Muhammad Ajmad Rafiq said in their judgment that the prosecution proved the case against appellant beyond any reasonable doubt.

There was no legitimate exception to findings arrived at by the trial court with respect to conviction and quantum of sentence awarded to the appellant.

"The instant appeal being devoid of merit, is dismissed," the judgment said.

According to the prosecution, the accused Abdul Basit had drugged the victim, took her to the house of a woman, the co-accused, where he raped her.

Later, he showed pictures to the victim for the purpose of blackmailing. When victim's condition deteriorated, the accused left her outside Nishtar Hospital where her father and brother took her home.

It was reported that the nude pictures were also thrown inside the house of the victim.

The trial court had awarded life imprisonment with Rs50,000 under Section 365-B PPC and another 15-year imprisonment with Rs50,000 fine under Section 376(i) PPC.