ISLAMABAD (HRNW): The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a landmark written judgment in the harrowing case of medical student Khadija Ghafoor, dismissing the accused’s petition to merge the trials for sexual assault and the leaking of the assault video. Justice Salahuddin, authoring the verdict, clarified that rape and the dissemination of compromising footage are two distinct criminal acts investigated by separate specialized agencies, making separate trials both legally sound and necessary for justice. The court further noted that the power to consolidate cases remains a discretionary authority of the trial court rather than a mandatory legal obligation, even when stemming from the same broader incident.
Beyond the procedural ruling, the apex court introduced significant reforms to protect the dignity of witnesses and victims during the judicial process. The judgment mandates that all witnesses be provided with seating in the courtroom, stating that forcing individuals to stand for hours during testimony is a violation of human dignity and the constitutional right to a fair trial. The court also warned against the misuse of cross-examination as a tool for harassment, instructing trial judges to act as vigilant supervisors rather than silent spectators to prevent lawyers from asking irrelevant or humiliating questions intended to exhaust the witness. A copy of this decision has been dispatched to all High Courts to ensure immediate implementation of these witness protection standards across the country.
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