Khadija Siddiqui Still Awaiting Justice
Khadija Siddiqui, a 21-year-old law student is still anticipating justice in the wake of being stabbed 23 times by one of her class-fellows. The perpetrator happens to be the son of an influential legal advisor. There seems to be some uplifting news as earlier in June the Lahore High Court rejected the respondent’s request against the orders of the Chief Justice. CJ Mansoor Ali Shah had guided the court to hear the case on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it has taken the court very long to concede to the seriousness of the case and the victim still awaits judgment.
The assault happened, with no attempt at being subtle, in a bustling market of Lahore. In spite of observer proclamations and CCTV footage being promptly accessible, the case had been pending in the sessions court and Lahore High Court for an entire year. The accused is allegedly being protected by a legal team attempting its best to defer due process. Previously they also helped the denounced, Shah Hussain, escape police custody when his pre-arrest bail was rejected.
According to reports, the litigant’s legal advisors are using delaying tactics as well as attempting to threaten and scare the judge. The hearing was to start in June, however, there were several delays which pushed the hearings forward. The legal counsels needed the court to defer the case since they didn’t have a “duplicate of the case record” and subsequently the judge needed to dismiss the hearing.
Both parties are anticipating deliberation on part of the judiciary.
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