RAJANPUR: (INP) A 13-year-old rape victim gave birth to a child, which will be the sole evidence that will lead the court to the alleged rapist.
\nThe girl was raped last year at her teacher\u2019s house. Her father said that his daughter had dropped out of school after class five, but wanted to continue studying. She began working at a house in the neighbourhood where she was also taught how to read the holy Quran. It was here that 40-year-old Kashif allegedly raped the girl last year.
\nNot bowing down to the backward traditions of the area, where often such incidents are hushed up, the victim\u2019s father, a labourer, spoke out.
\nAfter finding out that his daughter was pregnant he filed a case in the court. But the accused knew how rape cases work in courts. In the absence of any witnesses there is only circumstantial evidence- the victim\u2019s word against the rapist\u2014which is insufficient for conviction by a court.
\nIt is here that the family made some tough decisions. They decided to bring the unborn child in this world.
\nThe minor girl gave birth on November 17, 2016 following which the local court had ordered a DNA test to determine parenthood.
\nHowever, the key accused in the case failed to appear in the court during the last two proceedings.
\nOn Thursday (today) during the hearing the victim failed to present a lawyer in the court. They said they didn\u2019t have the resources to hire one. The judge has given orders for a public prosecutor in the case. The hearing has been adjourned till April 13.
\nIn an interview, the girl\u2019s father vowed to get his daughter justice. \u201cI will kill myself if I fail,\u201d said an emotional father.
\n\u201cWe are poor people. We expect the court to give us justice,\u201d said the victim, cradling her baby in her arm.
\nAmendments in the rape law last year make DNA test for victims mandatory, penalise the police for delaying investigation, and allow victims to testify in court through an in-camera session.
\nChairperson Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) Zohra Yousuf said that in this particular case the unborn child will serve as crucial evidence. \u201cAfter October 2016 a DNA test has been made compulsory in rape case. In this case it should not be difficult to establish a link,\u201d she said.
\nShe adds that since the girl is a minor the alleged rapist cannot establish that they were in a \u201cconsensual relationship\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RAJANPUR: (INP) A 13-year-old rape victim gave birth to a child, which will be the sole evidence that will lead the court to the alleged rapist. The girl was raped last year at her teacher\u2019s house. Her father said that his daughter had dropped out of school after class five, but wanted to continue studying. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-14825","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n