Hearing adjourned

LAHORE:The trial court in Sadiqabad has once again adjourned the case of Sajida Tabassum due to the absence of prosecution witnesses, prolonging the legal ordeal of the accused who has remained in jail for over a year.

Tabassum was arrested on March 6, 2024, under Section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint lodged by her neighbour. Despite the passage of more than a year, the trial has not reached a conclusion, with repeated delays attributed to the unavailability of the complainant and prosecution witnesses.

Speaking to The News, her legal counsel, Advocate Sarmad Ali, expressed concern over the continued delays, stating, 'Cases of such sensitive nature must be decided without unnecessary delay to safeguard the lives and rights of individuals facing trial.'

He stressed that prolonged detentions without conclusion of trial not only violate fundamental rights but also expose the accused to serious risks. The next date of hearing has not yet been announced.