Lahore High Court Grants Interim Bail to Man Accused of Abducting, Raping Schoolgirl

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has granted interim bail to a man accused of allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl after the girl told the court that she had married the accused of her own free will.

The court approved the suspect’s interim bail against surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

In its observations, the Lahore High Court noted that the police investigation report did not support the allegation of abduction.

The court said the girl had stated that she had married the accused of her own free will. However, it observed that the determination of the accused’s role would be made by the trial court in light of the available evidence.

The court further noted that the girl’s age had been estimated to be between 14 and 15 years, adding that the issue of a marriage involving a minor required further investigation.

The court’s decision to grant interim bail does not amount to a final determination of the allegations, which will be examined in accordance with the law and evidence during the proceedings.