Bail flee: IHC seeks reply on extraditing rape accused
FIA deputy director summoned today to explain what has been done to repatriate the man.
On September 30, 2013, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the New Town Police Station in Rawalpindi, against TM and his colleague AHB*, for alleged rape. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The High Court (IHC) on Wednesday summoned a Federal Investigation Agency deputy director in a case regarding a lawyer who allegedly gang-raped his niece with a colleague fellow and then fled abroad.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed the FIA official to appear before the court on Thursday to explain if Interpol’s help has been requested to have the accused extradited. The accused, TM*, was a senior member of the Fateh Jang Bar Association and allegedly raped his niece MJ*, a medical student.
On September 30, 2013, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the New Town Police Station in Rawalpindi, against TM and his colleague AHB*, for alleged rape.
On Wednesday, the petitioner, MJ’s mother, filed a petition seeking the arrest of the suspect through Interpol.
The counsel for the petitioner informed the court that TM had been arrested by the police but later obtained protective bail from the Peshawar High Court and fled the country.
AHB remains behind bars as his bail plea was rejected by an Additional District and Sessions judge in Rawalpindi.
According to the FIR, both accused also recorded the incident to blackmail the alleged victim and keep her from talking. MJ a resident of Gujranwala, has been staying within her aunt, who is also advocate and the spouse of TM.
The aunt was abroad when the incident took place. The petitioner’s counsel maintained that local court conducting trial in this matter had already declared TM an absconder and issued red warrants for his arrest.
The counsel alleged that TM has been harassing, pressurising and threatening the victim via phone to withdraw the case.
“The FIA has traced the location of the accused through telephone calls and found that he is in Malaysia,” he added. He requested the court to accept the petition and order the FIA to have the suspect extradited through Interpol.
*Names changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.
The High Court (IHC) on Wednesday summoned a Federal Investigation Agency deputy director in a case regarding a lawyer who allegedly gang-raped his niece with a colleague fellow and then fled abroad.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed the FIA official to appear before the court on Thursday to explain if Interpol’s help has been requested to have the accused extradited. The accused, TM*, was a senior member of the Fateh Jang Bar Association and allegedly raped his niece MJ*, a medical student.
On September 30, 2013, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the New Town Police Station in Rawalpindi, against TM and his colleague AHB*, for alleged rape.
On Wednesday, the petitioner, MJ’s mother, filed a petition seeking the arrest of the suspect through Interpol.
The counsel for the petitioner informed the court that TM had been arrested by the police but later obtained protective bail from the Peshawar High Court and fled the country.
AHB remains behind bars as his bail plea was rejected by an Additional District and Sessions judge in Rawalpindi.
According to the FIR, both accused also recorded the incident to blackmail the alleged victim and keep her from talking. MJ a resident of Gujranwala, has been staying within her aunt, who is also advocate and the spouse of TM.
The aunt was abroad when the incident took place. The petitioner’s counsel maintained that local court conducting trial in this matter had already declared TM an absconder and issued red warrants for his arrest.
The counsel alleged that TM has been harassing, pressurising and threatening the victim via phone to withdraw the case.
“The FIA has traced the location of the accused through telephone calls and found that he is in Malaysia,” he added. He requested the court to accept the petition and order the FIA to have the suspect extradited through Interpol.
*Names changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.