ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesdaytook suo moto notice of Khadija Siddiqui’s attacker Shah Hussain’sacquittal and summoned all the record of the case from the Lahore HighCourt (LHC).
Earlier, the knife-attack victim alleged that Punjab Governor RafiqueRajwana pressurised her to compromise with Hussain.
During an interview on a private news channel, Siddiqui said the governordirectly approached her, “He told me that the attacker is now guilty andfacing jail time so I should compromise and let him go as his future willbe destroyed,” adding that “I was shocked by these demands of Rajwana whohimself is a lawyer”.
“If they can convince the Punjab governor, they can easily pressurise theLHC judge,” she added.
During the interview, Siddiqui further revealed that a sessions judgecalled her in his chamber and asked her to forgive Hussain.
“I was in a state of shock when I was told this and for the next few days Iwondered how a judge can say something like this to me,” Siddiqui said,adding that this was mentioned in front of the criminal’s father.
“Upon my refusal, the judge stated that people do compromise even in themurder cases while your case is relatively a ‘small one’,” she stated. “Itold him that this is not the case as I now represent the women in oursociety.”
On Monday, LHC *acquitted the attackerlink>*ofSiddiqi, Hussain, who had stabbed Siddiqi 23 times in broad daylight backin May 2016.
Hussain, who had been sentenced to five years in jail by a session court oncharges of stabbing Siddiqi, was set free by the LHC which had earlierreserved their decision on the case.