A 14-year-old girl's rape case in Minchinabad has stalled for weeks, with police allegedly ignoring court orders and the investigating officer defying judicial directives. The case, involving a cleric who reportedly impregnated the minor, has exposed systemic failures in protecting child victims and enforcing court mandates. Main Developments Court records show a cleric was arrested on July 13 for sexually assaulting his 14-year-old student over two years, resulting in pregnancy. The victim studied and worked as domestic help inside the seminary, according to a July 14 report by IO Shehnaz Akhtar. The court ordered a 13-day remand for the accused, with a follow-up on July 17. On July 16, the victim's father filed an application alleging that the accused's influential family pressured the victim's mother into a settlement involving Rs1.05 million, with police complicity. Read also: Blaze in Mohmand Hills: What the Fire Means for Locals On July 17, the court issued a show-cause notice to the IO after she failed to appear. Proceedings were postponed, and on July 21, no police official appeared, leading to a new hearing scheduled for July 27. At that hearing, the court demanded the victim's presence and relevant records. However, the IO defied the order and took the victim to a different district court in Pakpattan to record her statement. Magistrate Muhammad Qasim Rasool, in two letters to the DPO Office on July 27, termed the police's actions insulting and delinquent. He ordered an inquiry against the IO and prohibited her from public interest assignments. The court also directed the DPO to file FIRs against all SHOs of the circle. Despite 11 days passing, no apparent action has been taken on these orders. Background Advocate Khalid Shahid, representing the victim's father, criticised the deputy commissioner's office for neglecting the case. He highlighted that the Anti-Rape Act mandates anti-rape crisis cells (ARCC) to protect children's rights, overseen by local DCs or commissioners alongside medical and police staff. Despite a court-marked application, no actions were taken by the cell, he said. The case has also drawn attention to the role of the IO, who was previously ordered to refrain from public duties due to misconduct allegations. Why It Matters This case underscores the vulnerability of minors in institutional settings, particularly seminaries, and the failure of law enforcement to act decisively even with court orders. The stall in proceedings raises questions about the effectiveness of the Anti-Rape Act and the accountability of police officials. The alleged pressure on the victim's family and the conflicting accounts between police and court sources highlight a justice system that may be failing the most vulnerable. What's Next The court has scheduled further hearings, with the victim's presence and records demanded. The DPO's office has yet to respond to requests for comment, though the DPO's spokesperson claimed that the court had rescinded its directions, a claim denied by court sources. Advocate Khalid asserted that police were not legally obligated to obtain consent for a medical check-up in cases involving minors, suggesting that the medical examination issue remains unresolved. The inquiry against the IO and the status of the FIRs against the SHOs are also pending.