Zaman, however, was not arrested despite the fact that an FIR was registered against him. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR: The Human Rights Directorate (HRD) of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) took notice of an incident of sexual abuse of eight-year-old Sameer*, who was allegedly assaulted by a police official in Prang, Charsadda on Friday.
Following a report of the incident published in The Express Tribune on Tuesday, the HRD contacted the daily’s Peshawar office to collect details on the story. “We read the story and it has been encircled,” said an HRD official. “We are filing a report which will be tabled before PHC Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan for further action.”
According to a case filed by Sameer’s father, Imanullah*, the first-grade student was playing outside his house just before Friday prayers when he reportedly went missing. Sameer returned later with blood-stained clothes and told his mother that Shah Zaman, a police constable, had sexually assaulted him. Zaman, however, was not arrested despite the fact that an FIR was registered against him.
Inaugurated in late 2009 by former PHC CJ Ijaz Afzal Khan, the HRD keeps a close eye on human rights violations. It is responsible for submitting reports of such incidents to the chief justice who then takes action on the cases.
(*Names have been changed to protect identities)
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2013.
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