Judge accused of sexually assaulting girl in court evading investigation: report

KARACHI: A judge of a civil court in Sehwan, accused of sexually assaulting a girl, has not appeared before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Sindh Police probing the incident, reported The News.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was constituted by the provincial police on the orders of the Sindh High Court on January 26, and is headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Ali Shair Khaskheli. 

However, on Wednesday, the accused approached the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Hyderabad with a request to transfer the investigation into the case to another district.

Also read: Judicial magistrate suspended after being accused of raping woman in his chambers

The DIG, Naeem Sheikh, confirmed to The News on Wednesday that he had received the application requesting for the transfer of the investigation, but expressed the inability to transfer the case on his own. 

"A three-member panel comprising SSP Jamshoro Amjad Shiekh, SSP Hyderabad Adeel Chandio and SP Complaint Cell Hyderabad was constituted to look into the case and submit their report," he said. 

Earlier on Monday, the police brought the victim and her associate to the Forensic Laboratory of Liaqat University of Medical Sciences (LUMS) for DNA tests, where their samples were obtained for the investigation. 

Also read: Alleged rape in civil judge's chamber: Sehwan magistrate to undergo medical tests

However, till (Wednesday) January 29, the accused did not appear for his DNA test. Dr. Rizwana, head of forensic laboratory, confirmed that the accused had not appeared for the test as yet. 

Without the samples of the accused, the tests cannot be conducted and finalised. The head of JIT, DSP Ali Shair Khaskheli, also told The News that the accused did not appear for DNA test despite several reminders.

The case against the judge

The judge was accused of sexually assaulting the litigant on January 13, and was suspended on January 18 by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh on grounds of misconduct. 

An FIR was registered against the accused on January 22 and a JIT was constituted to investigate the incident on January 26, following the directions of the Sindh High Court. 

Also read: Man arrested for sexually assaulting daughter-in-law in Karachi

According to the FIR, the Sehwan Police arrested a couple and produced them before a civil judge in early January. The judge took the girl with him to the chamber adjacent to the courtroom and assaulted her. 

The victim, who is presently confined to a state-run facility, said that she had only come forward with a complaint against the judge to protect others from the alleged predator. 

The News tried to approach the accused judge, called at his cell number and also sent him a text message, for his version of the events, but till the filing of the story, the judge had not responded.