On Monday, test cricketer Yasir Shah was implicated in a case involving the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl. The FIR was filed on December 19 at Islamabad’s Shalimar police station in response to a woman’s allegation.
The case was filed under sections 292-B and 292-C (child pornography) and 376 (rape punishment) of the Pakistan Penal Code against Yasir and the cricketer’s friend, Farhan.
The woman said in the FIR that she took her 14-year-old niece, a matric student, to a gathering in Lahore held by Yasir Shah, whom she claimed to know. Furthermore, she added that her niece seemed “unwell and troubled” two to three months after she returned.
The complainant said, “After continuously asking her about it, she said that at Yasir’s house, his friend Farhan took her mobile number and after talking to her a few times, claimed to be her friend.”
Moreover, she said that Yasir’s friend Farhan used to make the girl talk to Yasir on Whatsapp.
In addition to this, the aunt added, “My niece told me that on August 14, when she was returning from tuition, Farhan made her get into a taxi and took her to a flat in F-11.”
According to the FIR, Farhan sexually abused her in the flat while holding a gun to her head. He threatened to make the tape go viral and murder her if she notified anybody about what had happened, the complainant stated, adding that Farhan also had Yasir threaten the teenager.
Furthermore, the woman said that Yasir said that he was an international and famous player and threatened her with legal action.
The girl then told her aunt that Farhan had blackmailed her again and taken her to a flat above a café in E-11, where he raped her for the second time.
The aunt added, “When I heard about this, I called Yasir on WhatsApp and told him everything on September 10 or 11 at which point he was in the West Indies. Making fun [of the situation], he said that my niece was beautiful and he liked minor girls.” Furthermore, Yasir also proposed the idea of getting the teenager married off to Farhan.
The complainant said, “I swore at him and he [Yasir] threatened me with dire consequences, stating that he was friends with high ranking police and army officials. He threatened to implicate me in a case and to kill me.”
She added, “When I threatened to go to the police, Yasir said let bygones be bygones and said he would buy the girl a flat and bear her expenses till she turned 18 if I got her married to Farhan.”
Yasir continued to threaten her through Farhan, according to the complaint, and audio recordings of this were made.
The complainant said, “A few days ago, Yasir asked me to meet Farhan at a café in F-6. Farhan once again threatened me with dire consequences.”
“Now,” she added, “Yasir is asking for a meeting on Dec 22 at his flat in Islamabad. He said that if my niece could please him, all matters would be settled, otherwise do what you will.”
Farhan and Yasir conspired, according to the complainant, to lure minor girls into their shisha center, rape them, and blackmail them with videos of the incident. The aunt claimed that the two were threatening her along with her niece, and other members of her family and she requested officials to take action against them.
The victim had had a medical test, according to Islamabad police. “In light of the circumstances and the results of the medical exam,” the statement said, adding that the case would be investigated on its merits.
Police said, “Indiscriminate legal action will be ensured if evidence of rape comes to light.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was also made aware of the occurrence. The PCB said it had taken note of the claims leveled against one of the board’s “centrally contracted players” without mentioning Yasir.
Since 2014, the leg-spinner has been a prominent bowler for Pakistan. He set a new global record in cricket in 2018, becoming the first bowler to collect 200 Test wickets in 33 matches, breaking an 82-year-old record.
