Cleric’s physical remand extended in child rape case

LAHORE: A District and Sessions Court in Lahore on friday extended the physical remand of the cleric Abubakar Muaviya, who is accused of raping a 10-year-old child, by three days.

On April 8, Lahore police obtained a four-day physical remand of the seminary teacher in the alleged rape case.

As per the FIR, charges were filed against the accused under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Lahore police presented the accused cleric before Judicial Magistrate Habiba Sarfaraz, who extended his physical remand by three days.

The court also sought a report of the case from the investigating officer at the next hearing.

Read more: Punjab to get speedy trial courts for rape, child abuse cases

The accused was arrested in Tandlianwala tehsil of Faisalabad district on charges of raping a child; however, he was released six days after the arrest.

After his release, the accused posted a video statement on social media where he could be heard saying, “May Allah protect us from evil and I pray to Allah to grant me success in doing His work.”

Subsequently, the affected child’s father told the court that after some misunderstandings, an FIR was lodged against the accused.

Following uproar on social media over the incident of raping the minor by the teacher, the Punjab police arrested the accused in the rape case.