SC rejects Punjab plea seeking review of rape-to-fornication verdict
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has rejected the Punjab government’s petition seeking a review of its Dec 2, 2025 verdict that commuted a rape conviction into a charge of fornication — a ruling that sparked considerable controversy, with rights organisations, including the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), censuring the verdict. “Learned counsel for the petitioner is unable to point…
The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking a review of its December 2, 2025 decision that reduced a rape conviction to a charge of fornication. The three-judge bench, led by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, found no material illegality or irregularity in the order under review. The Punjab government had petitioned the Supreme Court to reconsider its earlier verdict, arguing that it was stigmatizing and contrary to principles of justice and victim protection. The court upheld the five-year sentence, reclassifying the rape conviction to fornication.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
