A teenager critically injured herself on Friday by attempting self-immolation with petrol after a local court in Sadiqabad acquitted three people accused of raping her. 

 

According to reports, the incident occurred near a treatment plant on Dipalpur Road, shortly after Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Azeem Sheikh announced the verdict, giving the three suspects the benefit of the doubt.

 

The 13-year-old victim, from Baga Hithar village within the jurisdiction of the Ganda Singh Police Station, sprinkled petrol on her body and then set herself on fire. Passersby immediately intervened, rescuing the young woman, but not before she sustained serious burns. 

 

She was first rushed to DHQ Hospital and then referred to Lahore's Jinnah Hospital in a critical condition.

 

The case dates back to 2022. The victim's father filed the FIR, stating the suspect, a policeman, allegedly raped his daughter and threatened her with severe consequences, compelling her to remain silent. The prosecution argued that the man raped and impregnated the girl inside the house of a female suspect. 

 

Two female relatives of the policeman were also charged; one for allegedly aiding the rapist, and the other for forcing the victim to take abortion pills. The court, however, acquitted all three individuals.

 

Following the acquittal, District Police Officer Essa Khan Sukhaira ordered the Superintendent of Police (SP) Investigation to launch an inquiry. The SP will investigate potential flaws in the initial investigation that might have led to the court's decision.

 

A police spokesman reportedly told a media outlet that the police had already dismissed the accused cop from service after an internal police investigation found him guilty when the incident was initially reported. 

 

He stated that the court based its acquittal on the findings of DNA profiling.