GILGIT: Police have arrested a 55-year-old man for allegedly molesting a seven-year-old girl in Turupi area of Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The incident came to light after the victim’s brother lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the City Police Station. According to the FIR, he reported that his young sister was molested by Fida Hussain, son of Ismael, who is a resident of the same locality.
The FIR details the disturbing account, stating that the accused had previously engaged in inappropriate behavior. It mentions that Fida Hussain had once attempted to misbehave with their mother when the family was not present, which was resolved at the time. However, this time, the situation escalated as the accused allegedly targeted the seven-year-old girl, leaving her traumatized.
The child initially hesitated to reveal the incident but later, in a distressed state, confirmed to her family that Fida Hussain was the one who had molested her. The FIR also notes that the accused threatened the victim with severe consequences if she disclosed what had happened.
The police have taken action by arresting Fida Hussain and have begun further investigations into the case. The incident has caused significant concern within the local community, with residents demanding strict action to ensure the safety and protection of children in the area. The community and the victim’s family are calling for the enforcement of the law to its fullest extent to punish the accused.
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In a statement, Gilgit-Baltistan Police said upon receiving information about the molestation case involving a 7-year-old girl, SSP Shiger, Sher Ahmed, took immediate notice and issued strict instructions to SDPO Shiger and SHO City Police Station Shiger to promptly reach the crime scene and arrest the accused. Acting on these directives, the SHO and his team arrived at the location and arrested Fida Hussain, son of Ismael, a 55-year-old resident of Turupi. The accused is now in police custody.
The police further stated that SSP Shiger has directed the SDPO and SHO to conduct a thorough investigation from various angles to ensure that the accused is brought to justice. Additionally, orders have been given to ensure that the victim’s family is provided with complete justice.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan has taken notice of the incident and sought a report on the alleged assault within two days. He has issued directives to the Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Commissioner of Baltistan to ensure strict legal action is taken against the accused involved in the incident.
Israr Ahmed, the Regional Coordinator at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, expressed deep concern over the alleged sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl in Shiger, describing the incident as both shameful and heartbreaking.
He emphasized that such a heinous act demands the strongest condemnation and that the perpetrator deserves no leniency. Ahmed called for the strict implementation of the Gilgit-Baltistan Child Protection Act 2017 and stressed the need for a concrete strategy to ensure its enforcement. He highlighted that the protection of children should be the government’s top priority and pointed out that incidents like these instill fear and anxiety among parents and children.
Ahmed also noted that similar incidents have occurred in Gilgit-Baltistan over the past few years, indicating that the time has come to develop and implement a robust plan for child protection. In addition to enforcing the laws, he emphasized the importance of running awareness campaigns for parents, teachers, and communities to prevent such tragedies in the future.