ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday approved the bail of a father accused of allegedly sexually assaulting his 3-year-old daughter.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, in a written order, stated that if the accused misuses bail or causes delays in the trial, the bail can be revoked.
The court granted bail against surety bonds worth Rs. 100,000 under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, noting that bail can be granted in cases requiring further inquiry. The order emphasized that the seriousness of the crime alone is not sufficient to deprive the court of its authority to grant bail.
The judgment also referenced a previous Supreme Court ruling, clarifying that bail does not mean acquittal but merely a change in custody. Bail signifies that instead of state custody, the accused is handed over to a guarantor, who is responsible for ensuring his presence before the court whenever required.
According to the written order, the petitioner, Muhammad Haseeb Hafeez, had been in jail for three months without any progress in the trial. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the case was a result of domestic disputes and that the accused was falsely implicated.
The court, citing records, noted that the complainant was the child’s mother, who was in her second marriage and had already filed for divorce.
The report from PIMS Hospital stated that the child’s mother had informed doctors of the alleged assault, but due to the victim’s non-cooperation, medical examination was not possible. The medico-legal report also did not find any wounds, abrasions, or bloodstains on the child’s body.
The verdict further remarked that there was no reasonable justification to believe that an educated man working in a sensitive institution would commit such an act against his 3-year-old daughter. It also highlighted that the investigation officer admitted the accused had not undergone a psychological assessment.