Man jailed for 14 years for raping minor boy

KARACHI: A sessions court in Karachi has handed down a 14-year prison sentence to a man convicted of sexually assaulting a six-year-old boy in the Sukhan police station area.

The additional district and sessions judge (Malir) found Sher Ali guilty of raping the child in a room at his residence in Cattle Colony in 2023. The court also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the convict and ruled that he would undergo further imprisonment if he failed to pay the amount.

In the written verdict, the judge described sexual violence against children as one of the most serious offences, observing that such crimes damage not only the victim but also the wider sense of safety in society. “It is without any qualm that offences of sexual violence against minors are among the gravest crimes, as they threaten the very fabric of society and undermine the safety of children. Such acts not only harm the victim but also create fear and insecurity within the community,” the judge wrote in the verdict.

The court said the child survivor had named and identified the accused before the court as the person who took him into a room and committed the offence there. It further noted that the boy’s account remained consistent during proceedings.

Prosecution case

According to the prosecution, the accused lived in the same neighbourhood and took the child to his room in August 2023, where the offence was committed. The boy later informed his father, who went to the location and promptly reported the matter to the police.

Police then registered a case against the suspect, arrested him from his residence and collected evidence, including clothing. The prosecution said the survivor was medically examined and the medical report confirmed that he had been sexually assaulted by the accused.

Court rejects defence plea

During the trial, Sher Ali denied the allegation and maintained that he had been falsely implicated. However, the court dismissed that defence, saying no enmity, ulterior motive or other reason had been shown that would explain why the complainant would falsely accuse him in such a serious matter.

“False implication in an offence of this nature is not a matter to be readily presumed, particularly where the accusation is supported by medical and forensic evidence. The accused has failed to create any dent in the prosecution case or to generate any reasonable doubt in his favour,” the court observed.

The ruling came after the court examined the survivor’s testimony along with the medical and forensic material placed on record by the prosecution in the case linked to the Sukhan police station jurisdiction.