Pakistan Gender News Voice of Gender News From Pakistan
SADIQABAD – Civil society members took out a protest rally against discharge of a case and release of the principal who allegedly molested a schoolgirl at his office in the Shahbaz Road area here.
After passing through various parts of the city, the rally culminated at the GPO Chowk. Addressing the participants, speakers alleged that the case had been discharged against Principal Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar of Al-Muslim Public Girls’ School and College, because of pressure from some influential persons. They also said that the case had been discharged on the basis of unavailability of eyewitnesses, which is what they believed against justice.
Earlier, the victim’s relatives called on the DPO at his office and recorded their protest against the release of the accused and also demanded that the DPO should take strict action against the police officials who released him. They also urged the police officer to seal the school to avoid any such incident in the days to come.
According to the case details, ‘S’, a resident of Rehman Colony had filed a complained with the C Division police station that Principal Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar sexually molested her in his office. She further stated that she had fallen out with her class fellow and the quarrel was taken to the principal. Meanwhile, she alleged, the accused entered the classroom and got her into his office and started sexually harassing her.
As she started making hue and cry, the student said, her brother, who is also her schoolfellow, entered the office and the principal disappeared. Later, the student informed her parents about the incident. On her complaint, the police had comprehended the principal but after political or authoritative pressure the police released him.
Source: The Nation
Date:11/23/2011
