Original subtitles

If you really want to help me, then...

Of course.

I don't know how to say this...

I mean...

you're the last person on earth I should be asking for help.

No.

If anything, I should be the first person you turn to, even now.

Sehar, I might not be your husband anymore.

But I'm still your childhood best friend, aren't I?

I need some money.

Then there's nothing to even think about.

I'll send it over right now.

There you go.

The money's been transferred. Okay?

Sehar, please.

Honestly, will you look at that?

Just look at their faces.

It's obvious they haven't come here willingly,

they've been dragged here.

Why are you dragging these decent people into this case?

They don't want any part of this, and yet you're forcing them.

They don't just want to be a part of it, Mr. Bukhari.

They want to fight, and they want to win.

Why must you say such things?

Just to soothe your fragile ego, I assume?

Please, value the court's time.

Why are you wasting your own time and the court's?

I'm going to win this case.

I am what stands between you and your so-called victory, Mr. Bukhari.

For now, you're just sitting across from me.

To lose, and then refuse to accept it...

It isn't a very good look on you, Ms. Beenish.

To declare victory while staring defeat right in the face...

now that doesn't look good on you, Mr. Bukhari.

Spare me the grandstanding.

In just a few days,

you'll either back down in despair or you'll retreat out of fear.

Despair has never stood in my way, Mr. Bukhari.

When it sees me coming,

it knows to get out of my path.

And as for fear, you can't scare me in the slightest.

Because I'm all too familiar with you and your dirty tricks.

Go and intimidate someone who isn't.

If that's truly what you think of me,

then you should stop focusing on who's speaking

and start listening to what's being said.

It makes no difference.

Because in my eyes,

neither the speaker nor a single word uttered holds any credibility.

Is that so?

Well then, just wait and see the havoc I wreak upon them.

And your ego will finally get the satisfaction it's craving.

All rise!

Please, have a seat.

Today, the prosecution will present its witnesses.

Mr. Moazzam Malik.

Mrs. Shaheena Moazzam Malik,

Mr. Saad Moazzam Malik,

Dr Shahnaz, and Inspector Shafiq.

Are they present in the courtroom?

Your Honor, Dr Shahnaz is testifying as a medico-legal officer in another case.

She will be here shortly.

Very well.

Then please call Ms. Sehar's father, Mr. Moazzam Malik.

All other witnesses are to wait outside the courtroom.

If I lie,

or hide anything from the court...

Then may God's wrath be upon me.

Then may God's wrath be upon me.

Alright, Ms. Beenish, please proceed.

Mr. Moazzam,

you stated to the police that you only found out about the incident

when Sehar returned home.

Yes.

I had fallen asleep,

but Sehar's mother was awake, waiting for her.

Then I was woken up by their screams and cries.

That's when I learned what had happened to Sehar.

Was Saad home at that time?

No.

Saad wasn't home.

He was out with his friends.

Did Sehar want to go to the police and file a report right away?

Yes.

She suggested it... But we refused.

We were terrified.

Terrified of what people would say.

How would Sehar ever get married?

How would she live her life...

What would become of her?

How would we answer everyone's questions?

We spent six days in this dilemma.

So after six days, how did Sehar file the FIR?

And all by herself?

When we wouldn't listen and kept trying to stop her,

one night she just left the house.

She had her medical examination, filed the FIR,

and returned the following day.

And did you argue with her for leaving the house and filing the report?

No. We didn't do anything of the sort.

Because the few hours she was gone were the hardest of our lives.

We thought that Sehar might never come back.

That she might do something irreversible.

We were terrified of losing our daughter for good.

I was filled with regret...

wondering why I hadn't stood by her.

Why I tried to stop her.

Then, did you stand by Sehar?

Yes.

We've done everything in our power to get her justice.

And we hope that this court will ensure she receives it.

That's precisely why I'm standing in this witness box today, to testify.

No further questions, Your Honor.

You may proceed, Mr. Bukhari.

Are you alright, Mr. Moazzam?

Yes, I'm quite alright.

Would you care for some water?

No, thank you.

I'm going to have to ask you some tough questions.

I trust you won't be offended.

Even if I were, it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to you, would it?

How can you say that?

Of course, it would make a difference, Mr. Moazzam.

I'm a father myself, with a daughter of my own.

My own father is still with us.

So I can only imagine what a father goes through,

standing in this very box, listening to his daughter's testimony.

It would matter a great deal to me. My heart would ache too.

I'll only proceed with your permission.

Go ahead and ask.

Mr. Moazzam, does your household run solely on your daughter's income?

No.

I'm a retired banker.

I'm the one who handles the household expenses.

And you're renting your home?

Yes, we rent.

Surely you dream of owning your own home one day?

Everyone has that dream.

What about a car? Do you own one?

Yes, I do.

A small one, I imagine?

We live within our means.

Still,

you must harbor aspirations for a bigger car and a grander home?

No.

I have no such aspirations.

Then why did you devise such a plan?

What plan?

The plan to extort money from my client, Kamran.

I didn't even know who Kamran was.

How could I possibly concoct a plan like that?

Is that so?

But you were certainly aware your daughter

worked for a major company, weren't you?

Yes, I did.

Then you must also have known

that the company's owner is a very powerful man.

What are you trying to imply?

I'm not implying a thing.

I just want to understand, Mr. Moazzam...

what possessed you to use your own daughter against my client?

Objection, Your Honor.

That isn't a question. It's an accusation.

He first framed this entire incident as a scheme by my client, Sehar,

and now he’s inventing a new story

that it was all her father's plan.

Your Honor, defense counsel should not be permitted to level such accusations.

I've barely begun my questioning,

and I'm already hearing objections, Your Honor.

Mr. Bukhari, question the witness.

Do not level accusations at him.

Get to the point.

Your Honor, if I fail to connect these dots,

I will willingly accept any penalty the court imposes.

Continue.

Ms. Beenish, please be seated.

So, Mr. Moazzam...

my point is that your daughter is a brilliant professional.

She's achieved so much at such a young age.

So why did you decide to take a shortcut?

What shortcut?

What on earth are you talking about?

In this entire country, can you name a single educated father,

a retired senior banker,

whose own daughter is educated, has a good job...

who, after she has been raped,

would keep her imprisoned in her own home for six long days?

It was a mistake.

We made a huge mistake...

A terrible mistake.

When a rape case isn't reported promptly,

when the very clothes she was wearing are discarded,

and a report is only filed when there's no hope of recovering any evidence...

would you call that a mistake...

or a plan?

Your Honor, we made a mistake, and all the evidence was destroyed.

But we didn't plan any of this.

The evidence wasn't destroyed, Your Honor.

Because there was never any evidence to begin with.

What are you trying to say?

Me?

I'm the one who is supposed to be questioning you.

Instead, you're questioning me.

I feel as though I'm the one being cross-examined here.

That's because you're not asking questions.

You're just accusing me of hatching some devious plan.

Speak plainly. What do you want to say?

Alright then...

since you insist.

Tell me,

isn't it true you instructed your daughter to falsely accuse my client, Kamran?

No.

That's a complete lie.

Isn't it true that your daughter is divorced?

That is true.

Isn't it true that you're desperate to get her married again?

That is correct.

And isn't it true that

one day my client, Kamran, dropped your daughter off

at her friend's place late at night?

He did, because Sehar didn't have her car that day.

But your son Saad had the car, didn't he?

And you deliberately told him to be late,

so my client would have to give your daughter a ride.

Isn't that true?

Why would I do something like that?

So, my client could drive your daughter to her friend's place,

allowing her to grow closer to him. Isn't that true?

This is a lie! A complete and utter lie!

Mr. Moazzam, isn't it true

that Saad arrived late that day?

And my client, acting the perfect gentleman,

was the one who dropped your daughter off at her friend's?

Correct?

He did.

Why on earth would I deny that?

Well then, am I not perfectly justified in asking...

isn't it true that you told your daughter

to trap my client, Kamran, into marriage?

And when he refused, you instructed her to accuse him of rape.

You told her to inform the police that it had happened six days prior,

ensuring that any possibility of evidence would be entirely out of the question.

All so you could blackmail him and extort money from him.

That's a lie.

It's slander.

With these very hands... I lovingly raised my daughter.

She's my pride and joy.

How could I do such a despicable thing?

What kind of father would do something so despicable?

That's precisely my question. How could you?

I never did anything of the sort!

Objection, Your Honor!

Counsel is badgering the witness.

He has answered this question repeatedly.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Bukhari, please move on.

Your Lordship, allow me to rephrase the question.

Mr. Moazzam...

aside from yourself, have you ever heard of an educated father...

whose daughter gets raped,

and he then locks her in the house for six days?

I made a mistake.

I admit it... I made a terrible mistake.

No further questions, Your Lordship.

Mr. Moazzam, you may be seated.

Please forgive me, my child.

I have wronged you terribly.

Don't say that, Dad.

You are standing by my side. For me, that's more than enough.

If only I had stood by you from the start.

If only we hadn't wasted all this time.

It's okay.

We're still going to win this case.

I have a feeling.

Everything's going to be okay.

My dear,

how is your mother going to hold up under all this questioning?

She'll fall apart completely.

Don't you worry about her.

Mom is very strong.

Dad, we've made it this far, haven't we?

And we'll see this through to the very end.

I’m absolutely certain...

this battle will end with my victory.

Yeah, my child.

Shaheena Moazzam. Present yourself, please.

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth.

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth.

Proceed, Mr. Bukhari.

Sure.

Mrs. Shaheena Moazzam...

Is it true that you didn't want Ms. Sehar

to file a police case against my client, Kamran Haider?

Yes, that is true.

But why didn't you explain that to your esteemed husband?

I did tell him in the beginning to stop Sehar.

And he still insisted?

He just kept saying we should let Sehar do whatever she wants.

So, the idea didn't originally come from Mr. Moazzam, but from Sehar.

And your husband just went along with it, right?

Yes, that's correct.

Because Sehar wanted to go to the police and file a report immediately.

And you didn't try to make her understand

what people would say if she filed a report like that?

I did explain it to her.

But I was wrong.

Ah, so eventually you became part of this plan as well?

Is that what happened?

Plan?

What plan?

You just told this court that Sehar wanted to file false charges against my client,

and you were against it.

Then your husband suggested letting her do as she pleases.

You warned them of the scandal a false accusation would cause,

and what people might say.

But later, you realized that you were wrong.

This is an extremely excellent and rare opportunity to earn money,

and it shouldn’t be missed.

And so you became part of the entire scheme.

-Isn't that what you said? -Objection, Your Honor!

The witness said no such thing.

That is purely a product of the counsel's imagination.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Bukhari,

when did the witness say any of that?

It seems you have fabricated this entire narrative yourself.

Your Honor, I simply asked a question.

At least let the witness answer it.

This cross-questioning is an art, sir.

If you stop me from asking such crucial questions,

then what am I even doing here, sir?

I might as well just take my seat!

Asking a question doesn't give you the right

to put words in the witness's mouth, Mr. Bukhari.

Your Honor, my only argument is that

the medical report and the investigation make it clear that a rape never occurred!

So, what does that leave us with if not a plan?

The girl is educated, smart, her father is a senior banker.

Speaking of which, just how educated are you, Mrs. Moazzam?

I'm a graduate.

Well, now. She's a graduate, Your Honor.

The girl has been locked up at home for six days.

You can hardly call that a mistake,

that's called planning.

Just like you, two children, a prosperous household,

your own special brand of family planning, I presume?

So, do tell me...

Did you throw away Sehar's clothes as well?

Yes, I was the one who threw them away.

Do you have any idea how important clothing is as evidence in a rape case?

Any idea at all?

I didn't before, but I do now.

Incredible.

You're a university graduate, aren't you?

I don't have a degree in this sort of thing.

Then how do you plan these things so well?

I didn't plan anything.

If you want to ask questions, then ask them,

but stop with the accusations.

Oh, so you're getting angry with me?

It seems you don't have the stomach for the truth.

I have no stomach for listening to fabricated questions

based on lies, Mr. Bukhari.

Lies...

Alright, if I ask one more thing, you won't take offense, will you?

Even if I do take offense, you'll still ask,

so you might as well go ahead.

So clever.

Tell me, what is your relationship with your husband like?

Like any other husband and wife.

Meaning, not good.

Why do you say that?

Is your own relationship with your wife not good, Mr. Bukhari?

You're certainly much sharper than your husband.

It seems he's completely under your thumb.

A henpecked husband, if you will.

You must be speaking from your own experience, Mr. Bukhari.

We are decent people.

In our family, the relationship between a husband and wife

isn't one of a master and slave, but one of equals.

So, you never passed this wisdom on to your daughter?

She couldn't save her marriage and got a divorce.

Perhaps you didn't hear me.

I said, in our home,

the relationship between a husband and wife is one of equals.

If that equality can't be maintained, we don't drag on such marriages.

Whatever.

That's all, Your Honor.

Mrs. Shaheena, you may step down.

Call Saad Moazzam for the testimony.

Saad Moazzam, come on, it's your turn.

Yes, Mom? Was everything alright in there?

Yes, everything was alright.

Saad, no matter what happens, you cannot lose your temper in there.

Okay?

Go on.

You didn't give that lawyer an inch.

The way you answered, he had to make a run for it.

I don't know.

It felt like he was going to prove we're all liars and win the case today.

That's not the case, Dad.

Beenish hasn't had the chance to speak yet.

You'll see how she turns the case around.

For now, let's go inside.

Saad must be worried, being all alone.

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth…

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth…

And nothing but the truth.

And nothing but the truth.

If I lie...

If I lie...

or hide anything from the court...

or hide anything from the court...

Then may God's wrath be upon me.

Then may God's wrath be upon me.

You may proceed, Mr. Bukhari.

So, son, you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration?

Yes, I’m in my final year.

And I’m no son of yours, so you may address me by my name.

Oh, okay.

Saad. Saad Moazzam,

do you travel to university on your clunky old motorcycle or by bus?

On my motorcycle.

I'm sure your heart longs for a car of your own.

Of course, it does.

Ever wish your sister Sehar's car was yours?

No, not at all.

I want to buy my own car through hard work.

Wow.

You believe in sheer hard work.

You don't believe in shortcuts, do you?

What do you mean by shortcut?

I mean, did your dear father and venerable mother let you in on their plan?

What plan?

Well... you tell me.

What do you call your parents?

Mom and Dad.

Mom and Dad.

So, tell me...

are you closer to your parents, or to Sehar?

Sister Sehar.

Sister Sehar.

And when did you find out that

your sister, Sehar, had been raped?

The night she got back from dinner.

What did you say then?

I said I would get my revenge on Kamran.

And did you?

Moazzam.

That.. uhh

Sehar says she has to go to the police station.

The police station?

Mom, haven't we been through enough? Now, Sister wants to go to the police?

Saad, what should I tell her?

To just forget what happened?

To stay silent?

Mom, causing a scene isn't going to get her justice here.

Maybe not, but people still have to fight for their rights.

And we will fight, Dad.

But going to the courts won't accomplish anything.

Whatever needs to be done, I'll do it.

What are you trying to do?

Bring another catastrophe down on this family?

How many times do I have to tell you to control your temper?

You should be telling her that, not me.

Why doesn't anyone get it? If this gets out,

how will she ever show her face in public again?

What will you say to our relatives?

How am I supposed to face anyone at university?

Saad, son?

I mean, Saad Moazzam.

Did you get your revenge then?

No.

I didn't.

Why not?

Did your sense of honor just fizzle out?

My family told me not to.

Your family.

Your sister Sehar, your mom, and your dad, they all talked you down...

but you're the angry young man, aren't you?

They explained it to me again and again, and I understood.

Did they also explain, again and again,

that there was a lot of money to be made?

What do you mean?

No, what I mean is, I don't understand you, Saad Moazzam.

One minute, your honor is aflame, and the next, it's gone.

Objection, Your Honor.

The defense counsel is badgering the witness

by twisting his decision not to break the law into a taunt against his honor.

Mr. Bukhari, murders in the name of honour are already a very big problem here,

and you are talking about taking the law into your own hands?

Yes, Your Honor, that's exactly what I want to ask.

Did someone at home tell you not to take the law into your own hands

because the whole song and dance about your honor was irrelevant from the start?

My honor is very much alive, and I’m in full control of my senses.

But my family made me understand

that there is no honor in taking the law into your own hands.

That's because you're not as close to your parents as Sehar is, are you?

So, they never let you in on the fact that the rape never happened.

Which means this whole question of honor is a moot point.

What do you mean, it never happened?

Objection, Your Honor.

Objection overruled.

I mean that your sister, Sehar,

and your father concocted this entire plan

to extort money from my client, Kamran Haider.

And since you're the youngest and the most emotional one,

they kept you in the dark.

They simply used you. It was all part of their plan.

Objection, Your Honor.

The defense counsel is merely speculating, not asking questions.

Mr. Bukhari.

Stop your nonsense.

And why is that?

It wasn't my honor that was lulled to sleep by the promise of money, was it?

Besides, I don't believe in shortcuts, Saad, son...

I mean, Saad Moazzam.

So why should I keep my mouth shut?

Tell me, is it true

that when Sehar and your parents realized

you might actually kill Kamran in a fit of rage,

they finally let you in on the whole plan?

And you know what?

As soon as you understood the whole scheme,

you suddenly dropped the idea of getting revenge, didn't you?

Why are you making up these stories?

Have you run out of questions?

Why are you being so brazen? Have you no shame?

Objection, Your Honor.

-Mr. Bukhari. -Could a brother really stoop so low?

Accusing an innocent man of raping his sister,

knowing full well that no such thing ever happened.

Mr. Bukhari.

Could any brother truly trade his honor for a house and a car?

I'll kill you! I'll murder you!

How dare you spew such nonsense?

Let go of him! Let go!

Do you think you own this place and can do as you please?

What is going on, Ms. Beenish?

I apologize, Your Honor.

Control him!

You've turned my courtroom into a wrestling ring.

If anything like this happens again,

I'll have him thrown in jail for contempt of court.

Are you out of your mind? You idiot.

Leave it. I'll handle him.

I even told you not to lose your temper, Saad.

Saad. Why are you getting so angry? Are you trying to sabotage the case?

Are you alright, Mr. Bukhari?

Some water, please.

Oh my God. How dare he do that?

I won't spare Kamran or his lawyer.

Saad.

Dr. Shahnaz, please present yourself. It's your turn now.

I am coming.

Saad.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Please, come inside.

Are we being summoned? Let's go, Mom.

Dr. Shahnaz, is it true that the complainant, Ms. Sehar,

came to you for a medical examination six days after the alleged rape?

Yes, that is correct.

Then, would it also be correct to say

there was nothing in the DNA results to substantiate her claim?

Yes, that is also correct.

So then why didn't you completely rule out the possibility of rape in your report?

Because Sehar had signs of injury on her body.

On her arms, as well as on her neck and thighs.

But you yourself wrote in your report

that those marks had faded significantly and were inconclusive.

Yes, I wrote that.

But the report does not conclude that a rape occurred.

Then why doesn't it conclude that a rape didn't occur?

As I've already stated,

injury marks were present on Sehar's body.

But is there any evidence greater than a DNA report, Doctor?

And that came back with nothing.

Look, a DNA test only determines

if intimate contact occurred between two people.

It does not determine whether that contact was consensual.

Sehar had injury marks on her body, Your Honor.

And based on their nature,

it seems that whatever took place was not with her consent.

If the DNA test establishes that no contact occurred,

then what is the significance of the injuries?

They are still significant.

Your Honor, it is the job of the police

to conduct a transparent investigation into this matter.

So, you cannot definitively state whether a rape occurred or not?

That’s correct.

Since six days had passed,

it’s difficult to say for certain that a rape occurred.

However, it is also impossible to definitively state that the accusation is false.

The matter of what’s true or false is for the court to decide, Your Honor.

So, that’s all.

It is getting quite late,

and our time is up for today.

What are your thoughts

on scheduling the testimony and cross-examination of the investigating officer,

Inspector Shafiq, for the next hearing?

Mr. Bukhari? Ms. Beenish?

The defense has no objection, Your Honor.

The prosecution also has no objection, Your Honor.

Alright.

For the next hearing,

the investigating officer, Inspector Shafiq,

will testify and be subject to cross-examination.

Additionally, we will record the statement of the accused, Kamran,

under Section 342.