According to initial information, a policeman was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in Baga Hithar village in 2022, within the limits of Ganda Singh Police Station. Two female relatives of the accused were also nominated, one for helping him and the other for allegedly forcing the victim to take medicines for abortion.

During the proceedings, the prosecution stated that the accused raped the girl inside the house of a female co-accused and that the victim later became pregnant. The FIR filed by the victim’s father claimed she stayed silent earlier due to severe threats from the accused.

Additional Session Judge Muhammad Azeem Sheikh acquitted all three accused, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Soon after hearing the verdict, the victim reached near the treatment plant at Dipalpur Road, sprinkled petrol on her clothes and set herself ablaze.

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Passersby quickly intervened and saved her, but she received serious burn injuries. She was rushed to DHQ Hospital and later shifted to Lahore Jinnah Hospital because her condition was critical.

Meanwhile, DPO Essa Khan Sukhaira directed the SP Investigation to review the entire case and check whether weak investigation or missing evidence led to the acquittal. A police spokesman added that the accused policeman had already been dismissed from service after an internal inquiry found him guilty, but he was acquitted in court based on DNA findings.