Karachi man gets 32 years for raping his daughter

A man in Karachi has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for raping his daughter and threatening her. Muhammad Shahid was found guilty by a sessions court after the case was brought to trial. The incidents occurred in May 2020 while the victim's mother was hospitalized. The court's decision was made by Additional Sessions Judge Mirza Tauseef Ahmed. The judge noted that the prosecution proved that Shahid had assaulted his daughter multiple times. He received 25 years for rape and an additional seven years for threatening her life. Shahid was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs250,000. The victim lived in a crowded household with her parents and six siblings. She explained that her father abused her when her mother was away and her siblings were asleep. After the assault, she became pregnant but resisted her mother’s suggestion for an abortion. She later gave birth to a premature baby. The victim sought help from a person she met on Facebook and expressed her desire to marry him. However, Shahid threatened him as well if he shared the details of the case. Despite familial pressure against reporting the abuse, she eventually filed a complaint with the police on August 17, 2021. Shahid denied the allegations and claimed he was innocent. The judge acknowledged the delay in reporting, as the victim mentioned being intimidated by her own father and facing pressure to stay silent for the sake of her family.