Can file case against Mufti Kifayatullah if he gave refuge to Mansehra rapist: prosecutor

MANSEHRA: A case could be filed against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's (JUI-F) Mufti Kifayatullah if proved that he provided refuge to a child rapist arrested last night, the assistant public prosecutor in the case said Monday.

The prosecutor made the comment as the primary accused, a religious teacher at a madrassa, was handed over to police on five-day physical remand. The accused was given refuge for three days, the prosecutor added.

The qari had allegedly raped and severely beaten a 10-year-old boy on December 25 in the city's Thakar Mira neighbourhood and had since been on the run until his arrest Sunday night when Kifayatullah and other local religious leaders had handed him over to police.

Police on Sunday night had confirmed that the religious teacher had been arrested alongside four alleged accomplices, including his brother. They were relatives of the accused, police had added.

Medical report confirms rape

A medical examination of the survivor confirmed that he was raped and subjected to torture, police said. The report detailed that the boy had wounds on his elbows and his eyes were swollen.

The boy had been admitted to a local hospital on December 25 in critical condition.

On the other hand, the madrassa where the qari taught denied the allegation levelled on its faculty member, saying another student with the same name had been involved in a fight with the survivor.

Madrassa sealed

It denied any knowledge of the rape incident but said the teacher had been wrongfully blamed due to similar names. It also claimed that the religious teacher had surrendered to the police himself instead of being arrested.

Police had sealed the madrassa while the provincial department of education has initiated an inquiry against the qari, who is a government employee.