A court in Taxila sentenced a local leader of the PML-N to 20 years in prison and imposed a Rs100,000 fine for raping a 13-year-old girl three years ago.

Additional and Sessions Judge Taxila Malik Ahmed Arshad Mahmood also handed a three-year prison sentence to a doctor for her involvement in an abortion performed on the girl.

The local court acquitted two brothers of the prime convict for lack of evidence against them.

Editorial: Paedophiles that live among us should no longer be able to walk freely

In 2015, the mother of the victim had lodged a case against the prime convict Ishfaq, his two brothers and the doctor.

She had contended that the prime convict — who is a cousin of the victim's father — and his two brothers raped her then 13-year-old daughter at gunpoint at his home.

Later, when the convict came to know the victim was pregnant, he had a doctor perform an abortion on her at a private clinic.

The convicts, who had earlier been granted interim bail, were arrested from outside the courtroom.

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...