Rawalpindi: Additional District and Sessions Judge Afshan Ijaz Sufi has delivered a landmark ruling, declaring that compromise agreements in cases of rape and gang rape involving women and children are unacceptable and constitute a crime in themselves.
According to the court’s order, complainants and witnesses who attempt to settle such cases out of court will also be held criminally liable. The court has directed the arrest of complainants and witnesses in 19 rape cases registered in Rawalpindi where compromises were attempted. Among them are 10 women and 9 men.
The ruling stated that perpetrators of heinous crimes such as child and women abuse cannot be acquitted through compromise agreements. Additionally, the court ordered legal action against women found guilty of filing false rape cases.
City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani has instructed all station house officers (SHOs) to ensure immediate implementation of the court’s directives.
