Pakistan Gender News Voice of Gender News From Pakistan
By: Munawer Azeem
ISLAMABAD: The city’s district and session court on Friday issued directions to constitute a medical board to ascertain the actual age of a girl, who allegedly burnt some pages containing verses form the Holy Quran.
Counsel for the girl, Advocate Tahir Naveed Chaudhry submitted an application in the court on Thursday, seeking its direction in this regard. Advocate Chaudhry told Dawn that in the court of additional district and session judge, he pleaded that the girl was a minor according to the Church record, but the police and hospital record showed her age 16 years.
Juvenile and adults are dealt differently by the law, according to their ages; so the punishments are also different, he said, adding that the actual age of the minor girl would be ascertained accordingly.
After hearing the arguments of the lawyer, the judge issued an order to constitute a medical board to ascertain her age. The lawyer said that there was no time frame for the constitution of the board and when it would examine the girl.
Besides, the counsel of the girl also moved bail application for the girl by pleading that the case was fabricated and contents of the FIR (first information report) was not attractive, he added.
Replying to a question about the grounds of the bail application, Advocate Chaudhry said nobody was mentioned in the FIR, nor anyone claimed that they saw the girl, while burning the pages containing verses from the Holy Quran.
Besides, it was also pleaded that how the complainant saw that the girl was carrying the burnt pages inside the shopper, he said. The case was fabricated and preplanned, the counsel said, adding that there was no intention and preparation on part of the girl for her involvement in the allegation.
Moreover, it was also pleaded that the girl was a minor and should be treated according to the juvenile justice system, he added. He said that the bail application will be heard on August 28.
