Court Sentences Man to 10 Years for Raping Daughter

A Karachi court has handed down a 10-year prison sentence to a man found guilty of sexually assaulting his 18-year-old daughter in the Korangi Industrial Area.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Naseer Noor Khan delivered the verdict on December 22, rejecting the accused’s defense that the case was fabricated as part of a scheme to seize his property.

The judge termed the claim implausible, observing that it was unreasonable to suggest a mother would falsely involve her own daughter to implicate her husband over a property dispute.

The court also dismissed testimony from defense witnesses, including the accused’s father and uncle, noting that they were interested parties and failed to provide credible support for the property-related allegation.

The accused, Muhammad Irfan, was convicted under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code for raping his daughter at their residence in Nasir Colony, Korangi, in September 2023.

Alongside the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 100,000. In case of non-payment, Irfan will serve an additional six months of simple imprisonment. The judge directed that any recovered fine be paid to the victim as compensation under the Anti-Rape (Investigation & Trial) Act, 2021.

According to the FIR and court proceedings, the assault occurred around 3 am when the victim was returning from a washroom on the ground floor of the house. She testified that her father dragged her into a room, locked the door, restrained her, and committed the assault. She further stated that he threatened to kill her and divorce her mother if she revealed the incident.

The victim later confided in her aunt, who informed her mother, Shahnaz Kanwal. The FIR was registered at the Korangi Industrial Area police station on December 28, 2023.

In his 13-page written judgment, Judge Khan stated that the prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He described the victim’s testimony as clear, consistent, and free from bias. The ruling also referred to Supreme Court precedents, emphasizing that in sexual offense cases, a victim’s testimony alone can be sufficient for conviction if it is found credible.

The court noted that the victim’s account was corroborated by her statement recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code before a judicial magistrate, her mother’s testimony, and medical evidence.

As required under the Anti-Rape Act, the judgment has been sent to the Sindh High Court for confirmation. The convict has been granted 30 days to file an appeal. Following the announcement of the verdict, Irfan was taken into custody, and the court ordered that the sentence be enforced in accordance with the law.