LAHORE: The principal of a private school has allegedly been raping students at his school in Barki police precincts for the last one year with the connivance of the SHO of the area.

This horrifying fact came to light when a 13-year-old girl, studying in Raza Public School owned and run by Shaukat Ali, was diagnosed as pregnant after three months of the rape. The victim is a resident of Jamun Village where the accused had established a private school. More than 800 male and female students of Jamun and other adjacent villages have been studying there.

Shaukat had also hired lady teachers for female students. The girl said she was cleaning a room of the school after the school had closed down when Shaukat, the principal of the school, raped her after locking the room.

After committing rape, Shaukat warned the girl to remain silent. The girl kept this incident secret but when she felt some pain and told her mother last week, the mother took her daughter to the Services Hospital. The doctors, after an ultrasound, diagnosed her as pregnant. After receiving this report, the parents of the victim asked her about the incident and she told the details.

Some villagers told The News that it was not the first incident, as Shaukat had already raped three girls. Asked whether the incidents were reported, they said Shaukat had bribed police officials, including the SHO of Barki Police Station, who had not taken any action against him. They said Shaukat had been swearing in the mosque that he had not raped any girl.

After the rape was identified in pregnancy report and the victim had given statement in the court against the principal of the school, the police registered a case against him on July 16, 2007 but the accused remains at large. One of the villagers said that he had obtained pre-arrest bail and fled the village along with his family.
Source: The News
Date:7/23/2007