The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed the bail application of a teacher accused of sexually abusing a minor student and ordered the Punjab government to bolster child protection measures in schools across the province.
Court Directives for School Safety
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, in a detailed five-page judgment, directed the verification of all teaching and non-teaching staff, installation of CCTV cameras in educational institutions, mandatory child protection training, and the establishment of confidential complaint mechanisms.
Details of the Case
The case was registered at Saddar Police Station in Rahim Yar Khan against the accused, Shan Ali alias Zeeshan. The prosecution alleged that a 12-year-old student was abused at school and that a co-accused recorded the incident.
The prosecution informed the court that statements of the victim and other witnesses had been recorded and that a forensic examination of the video found no evidence of tampering, supporting the allegations against the accused.
Defense Arguments Rejected
The defense argued that the case was registered after a delay, claimed the video was fabricated, and maintained that the accused had no previous criminal record, requesting bail. However, the court held that witness statements, video evidence, and other material established sufficient grounds linking the accused to the alleged offence.
The judgment further noted that investigators had allegedly recovered numerous other objectionable videos from the accused’s mobile phone, which the court said further strengthened the prosecution’s case.
Bail Denied and Further Orders
Terming the allegations serious and the offence non-bailable, the court dismissed the bail plea. It also directed the Punjab government and relevant authorities to enhance monitoring and child safety measures in educational institutions and ensure effective implementation of the court’s directives.
