KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has dismissed the appeal of a convict, Abdullah, against his sentence in a case involving the rape of a woman under the pretext of marriage, upholding the trial court’s original verdict.
While presiding over the hearing, Justice Iqbal Kalhoro remarked that consent obtained through a false promise of marriage is not legally valid. The court observed that such “consent” falls under the definition of rape as it is secured through deception and mental pressure.
The court further ruled that persuading a woman with a fake marriage proposal constitutes fraud and coercion, adding that the plea of “consent” is ineffective and irrelevant in matters involving unnatural acts.
The convict, who was originally booked at the Chakiwara Police Station, was previously sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine by the trial court. With the SHC’s latest decision, the original sentence stands confirmed.
