Mufti Kifayatullah regrets harbouring assaulter of seminary student

MANSEHRA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Mufti Kifayatullah on Sunday expressed his regret for harbouring cleric Qari Shamsuddin, who had allegedly assaulted a seminary student in Parhana area last month.

“I had announced just after the incident that if the assaulter found guilty, I would never back him and instead come forward in support of victim family. I am no more with the assaulter as the DNA test has proven him guilty,” Mufti Kifayatullah told reporters here.

He said that he would not respond to allegations levelled against him by victim family, adding that he had sympathies with the student's family but some elements created differences between him and the victim family. “We would extend all possible support to victim student in order to take assaulter to justice as in our society there is no place for such criminals,” the JUI-F leader said. Also, advocate Musawar Aslam Tanoli, the counsel of cleric Shamsuddin, said that he was studying DNA test report and if he was satisfied that the accused had brought a bad name to his noble profession he would quit pursuing his case in the court of law.

“I have moved bail application of assaulter in a local court where judge would take it up for arguments on Monday ( today) and if I am satisfied assaulter is at fault, I would quit pursuing his case,” said Tanoli. Senior Superintendent of Police Arif Javed, who is also member of joint investigation team constituted by Deputy Inspector General of Police Hazara range, Mazharul Haq Kakakhel, told reporters that they would submit the complete challan of case along with DNA examination report to the trail court today. “We would also request judge to shift this case to model court because of its sensitivity,” he said.