KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Saturday put a judicial magistrate, posted in Sehwan, under suspension for allegedly assaulting a woman litigant in his chamber.

According to a notification issued by the SHC, Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh has suspended the judicial magistrate for “misconduct” and directed him to report to the high court with immediate effect.

The sources said that a couple, who left their homes to contract a free-will marriage, was brought before the judicial magistrate by the police on Jan 13.

They stated that as per the initial complaint of the woman reported to the Sehwan police, the magistrate called her into his chamber directing all the staff and policewomen to leave and then allegedly raped her.

The woman was brought to the Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences in Sehwan for medical examination, they added.

The sources further said that an initial inquiry was conducted by the district and sessions judge of Jamshoro on the SHC directive and reported the matter back to the high court. Many attempts were made to reach Jamshoro SSP Amjad Shaikh, but to no avail. However, as per sources in the police, no FIR had been registered till late in the evening.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2020