PAKISTANI CRICKETER DODGES JAIL AFTER VIOLENT ATTACK ON WIFE
A Pakistani cricketer named Mustafa Bashir, aged 34, has been convicted of domestic violence against his wife, Fakhara Karim.Bashir assaulted his wife with a cricket bat, battered her with it because he felt she was talking too long on the phone, and threatened to kill her, saying "If I hit you with this bat with my full power then you would be dead." During a domestic row, Bashir forced Miss Karim to take tablets and drink bleach, and told her to kill herself.
Miss Karim managed to report the abuse, stating: "I now feel strong enough to report this to the police.
I did fear for my life, he told me he was going to kill me." Bashir pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm but received a suspended prison sentence of 18 years for two years.
Judge Richard Mansell QC mentioned that he was not convinced the victim was vulnerable as she was described as an intelligent woman with a support network.
Bashir was ordered to attend a relationship workshop, pay £1000 in costs, and was issued a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Karim indefinitely.
Bashir's lawyers argued that if he was allowed to keep his liberty, he would be employed by Leicestershire County Cricket Club and could accept a contract, a claim the club denied, asserting they had never spoken to Bashir or offered him a contract.
The court highlighted Bashir's controlling behaviour and repeated violence, with incidents including slapping her and threatening her life.
The judge emphasized that the court would not tolerate violence of this nature, and Bashir was given a suspended sentence, with conditions including community service and a relationship workshop.
The case drew condemnation from domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, criticizing the leniency of the sentence given the severity of Bashir’s actions and emphasizing that domestic abuse can affect women of all backgrounds.
