After an 18-year-old woman that was mentally challenged was discovered to be pregnant, she was asked to give birth to the child to prove that she is a victim of rape.
The 18-year-old was brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s Emergency with complaints of abdominal pain on January 20th. When a doctor examined her and performed an ultrasound, diagnostics revealed that she was twenty weeks or roughly five months pregnant.
Her family members were surprised as to how the unmarried teen was pregnant. When asked about the situation, the victim revealed that their neighbor, Muhammad Mukhtar, had raped her five months ago.
According to SAMAA Digital, the mentally challenged teen lives in a residential colony near JPMC. According to her statement, when her family had gone to a relative’s funeral on July 28th last year, Mukhtar called her to his house and raped her. Meaning she is currently carrying in her second trimester.
She said that Mukhtar slapped her face and dragged her into a room where he raped her at gunpoint. The family is decided to initiate legal action against Mukhtar. The victim’s father filed a complaint. FIR No. 7/22 under section 376 (punishment for rape) and 506-B (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code had been registered against Mukhtar on January 24th at the South Woman Police Station.
When the teen was taken to JPMC’s medico-legal section for an examination. A Woman Medico-Legal Officer wrote that it was difficult to ascertain sexual assault after a lapse of five months.
Meanwhile, South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation-I, Dr. Farrukh Raza told SAMAA Digital that it is difficult to investigate a rape that allegedly took place five months ago. Citing the WMLO’s report he said, the only option left was for the victim to give birth.
“A paternity test will confirm who raped the woman,” the SSP said.
It is pertinent to mention that a prenatal DNA test can be performed seven to 10 weeks into pregnancy.
JPMC Additional Police Surgeon (APS) Dr Sumaiyya Tariq Syed told SAMAA Digital that she was trying to get a DNA sample of the unborn baby.
Development in the Rape Case
The accused Muhammad Mukhtar is a policeman. He was on security duty for District Central’s SSP.
On January 25th, a large number of people, including family members, relatives, and neighbors of the teen, gathered outside the Karachi Police Office on Sharah-e Faisal to protest. The protesters demanded the arrest of the accused policeman.
Later that same day the accused appeared before District South SSP Investigation-I and surrendered. Despite his arrest and a formal complaint, the investigation is not going anywhere.
