Karachi court sentences man to 10 years for raping daughter

News Desk

Karachi: An additional district and sessions court in Karachi has sentenced a man to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment after convicting him of raping his 18-year-old daughter in the Korangi Industrial Area.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Naseer Noor Khan, in a judgment dated December 22, rejected the defence claim that the case had been fabricated to seize the accused’s property, terming the argument “unreasonable and unbelievable.”

“It cannot be accepted that a mother would falsely involve her own daughter to implicate her husband merely to usurp his property,” the court observed, adding that testimonies of defence witnesses — the accused’s father and uncle — were from interested parties and failed to substantiate the allegation.

The court found Muhammad Irfan guilty under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code for raping his daughter in September 2023 at their residence in Nasir Colony, Korangi. In addition to the prison sentence, the convict was fined Rs100,000. In case of non-payment, he will face an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

The judge ordered that any fine recovered be paid to the victim as compensation under the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021.

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According to the FIR and court record, the incident occurred around 3am when the victim was returning from a washroom on the ground floor of the house. She testified that her father pulled her into a room, locked it, forcibly silenced her and raped her. The accused later threatened to kill her and divorce her mother if she disclosed the incident.

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

In his 13-page detailed judgment, Judge Khan ruled that the prosecution had proved its case “beyond the shadow of any reasonable doubt,” describing the victim’s testimony as “natural, independent, unbiased and straightforward.”

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The court noted that the victim’s statement was corroborated by her testimony recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code before a judicial magistrate, medical evidence, and the statement of her mother. The judge cited Supreme Court precedents holding that the sole testimony of a victim in sexual offence cases is sufficient for conviction if it inspires confidence.

The court further observed that investigative lapses could not benefit the accused when the offence had been established through reliable evidence on record.

As required under the Anti-Rape Act, the judgment has been forwarded to the Sindh High Court for review. The convict has 30 days to file an appeal.

Following the announcement of the verdict, the accused was taken into custody, and the court directed that the sentence be carried out in accordance with the law.