Supreme Court Acquits Father After 12 Years in Jail on Daughter’s Rape Allegation

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted a man who had been imprisoned for 12 years on charges of sexually assaulting his own daughter.

The apex court overturned the convictions and life sentence handed down by the trial court and upheld by the Lahore High Court, ordering his immediate release if not wanted in any other case.

A 10-page verdict authored by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was issued, following hearings before a three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar.

The Supreme Court ruled that the child’s mental maturity was not assessed at the time of recording her testimony, a requirement under the law of evidence. The court noted contradictions in the victim’s statements, unclear details regarding time and date, and inconsistencies in medical testimony—where the doctor initially suggested rape but later denied it during cross-examination.

The written judgment also highlighted that the complainant (the mother) and the child’s uncle were not eyewitnesses but hearsay witnesses. It further observed that property and family disputes within the household had also surfaced during proceedings.

In 2010, the 6–7-year-old daughter had accused her father of sexual assault, leading to his conviction with life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 35,000 by the trial court. The Lahore High Court upheld the verdict in 2013, after which the accused approached the Supreme Court.