Nonbailable arrest warrants issued for couple in forced conversion and child marriage case
Additional District and Sessions Judge Karachi West Gul Zamir Solangi on Wednesday, April 7, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Rehan Baloch and his wife Sundas, who stand accused of facilitating Rehan’s brother Imran Baloch in abducting, raping, forcibly converting, and marrying an underage Christain girl in June 2019.
Five suspects, including prime accused Imran, his sister Azra, his brother Rehan, sister-in-law Sundas (a convert and the rape survivor’s aunt), and the nikah khawan Qazi Ahmed Jan Raheemi (who is also nominated in the case of 13-year-old Arzoo Raja) have been charged for crimes against the 15-year-old girl.
The initial FIR was registered under sections 34 (common intention), 342 (wrongful confinement), 365-B (kidnapping, abducting, or inducing a woman to compel for marriage), 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the PPC on the complaint of the rape survivor at the Ittehad Town police station. Sections 3 (punishment for male contracting party), 4 (punishment for solemnising a child marriage) and 5 (punishment for parent or guardian concerned in child marriage) of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act were later incorporated on the directives of a judicial magistrate.
Man sets girl alight after failed rape bid
One Wasim on Wednesday set alight his 15-year-old cousin after she managed to resist his rape attempt, resulting in severe burn injuries to her legs.
According to the FIR lodged by the girl’s mother, Saira, Wasim entered their home in Dijkot while Saira was out for work and attempted to sexually assault the lone teen. However, when the girl lashed out, the accused set her legs on fire and made his escape. Acting on a call by the girl’s neighbours, Rescue 1122 responders arrived at the spot to give her first aid before shifting her to a hospital for treatment.
A case has been lodged against Wasim under sections 376 (rape), 436 (mischief by fire) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit punishable offenses with imprisonment for life) of the PPC, and police are conducting raids to apprehend the absconder.
Khawaja sira murdered in Taxila
A khawaja sira identified as Bubbli was murdered by two unidentified assailants on a motorbike on Wednesday. According to the police, she was in her vehicle with her driver when the unknown men opened fire, killing Bubbli and injuring her driver. The police have shifted the deceased body to the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital in Taxila.
