Prison chief summoned in gang-rape case

By Ishaq Tanoli
KARACHI: A sessions court issued on Tuesday a show-cause notice to the jail superintendent non-production of the accused in the gang-rape case of a teenaged girl from Dadu district.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (south) Nizar Ali Khawaja also directed the superintendent of the Central Prison of Karachi to appear in person before the court on the next hearing and explain the non-production of the accused from the prison.
The prosecution said that 13-year-old Kainat Soomro was allegedly gang-raped by four men on Jan 10, 2007 in Mehar village of Dadu after being kidnapped from her home.
The police had arrested Shahban Sheikh, Sheikh Ahsan, Roshan Aleem and Kaleemullah for their alleged involvement in the crime.
The testimony of prosecution witnesses could not be recorded on Tuesday as the accused were not brought to the court from the prison.
Special Public Prosecutor Abdul Maroof told the court that the jail authorities were deliberately delaying the case by not producing the accused in court, though the Sindh High Court had directed the trial court for a speedy disposal of the case.
He said it was not for the first time that the accused were not produced in court, but it had happened several times. He requested the court to issue a show-cause notice for the jail superintendent.
Initially, the case was tried in the sessions court of Dadu. However, the Sindh High Court transferred the case to a sessions court in Karachi on the request of the victim’s father.
The prosecution witnesses and the victim were present in the court on Tuesday. The hearing was adjourned till April 11.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/8/2009