The Lahore High Court’s Bahawalpur Bench upheld the life imprisonment for raping a minor girl, dismissing the Appeal 

Islamabad 10-01-2025: The Lahore High Court’s Bahawalpur Bench dismissed an appeal filed by Sajjad Ahmad, a convict sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a minor girl. The Court upheld the conviction and sentence awarded by the trial Court, emphasizing the credibility of the victim’s testimony and corroborative medical evidence.

Sajjad Ahmad was convicted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Liaquatpur, under Section 376(3) of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, for the rape of a 14-year-old girl. The incident occurred in June 2021, and the FIR was registered after a two-day delay. The trial Court sentenced the convict to life imprisonment, imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000, and directed him to pay Rs. 100,000 as compensation to the victim under Section 544-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. His co-accused were acquitted due to a lack of direct evidence.

The Appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that:  

1. The evidence was fabricated and unreliable.  
2. Delay in lodging the FIR weakened the prosecution’s case.  
3. The trial Court erred in convicting him while acquitting his co-accused based on the same evidence.  

The Lahore High Court dismissed these arguments, holding that:  

1. The victim’s testimony was consistent and credible, sufficient for conviction in rape cases.  
2. The delay in lodging the FIR was justified due to societal pressures and stigma associated with reporting sexual assault.   
3. Medical evidence corroborated the victim’s account, with injuries consistent with rape.  
4. The co-accused were acquitted as the victim explicitly identified only Sajjad Ahmad as the perpetrator.  

The Court relied on established precedents, including:  

1. Mushtaq Ahmed Vs. The State (2007 SCMR 473), affirming that credible victim testimony is sufficient for conviction in rape cases.  
2. Zahid and another Vs. The State (2020 SCMR 590), recognizing societal pressures causing delays in reporting sexual offenses.  
3. Farooq Ahmed Vs. The State (PLD 2020 SC 313), stating that DNA evidence is not mandatory when penetration is proven through other means.   

The Court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and there was no justification to interfere with the trial Court’s decision. Sajjad Ahmad’s appeal was dismissed, and his life sentence upheld.

This judgment reiterates the judicial commitment to protecting victims of sexual assault while balancing principles of Fairness and Justice.

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