Rape victim knocks at the door of justice
MIANWALI, Sept 2: A 14-year-old alleged rape victim has appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to order reinvestigation of her case which the local police claim is based on false accusations.
“K”, a resident of Chah Miana, some five kilometre from here, in an FIR registered with Saddar police, alleged that four men, two of whom she could recognise, abducted and raped her on July 20, 2007.
Giving details, she told Dawn that she was abducted by two accused from a village shop where she went to buy some items of daily use. The accused bundled her up in a car and took to an unidentified house where they were joined by two other men, she said.
She alleged that she was kept detained for two days and was repeatedly raped by the four accused.
“I would rather kill myself than to living on to be considered as a rape victim all my life. I have no choice if I am denied justice.” K, belonging to a poor peasant family, said.
Her brother Ghulam Mustafa filed an application with the police and an FIR was lodged under sections 376(2), 365(B) of the PPC against the four accused following the medical report issued by a woman doctor posted at the district headquarters hospital stated that the girl was not virgin.
The police arrested the accused and sent the vaginal specimens to Rawalpindi for chemical examination. However, the examination report stated that there was no chemical evidence found to establish that the girl was raped. Following the report, the police released the accused.
The girl and her family allege that the police is favouring the accused as they are being backed by some influential people of the area who are also pressurising them (‘victim’ and her family) for a ‘reconciliation’ with the accused.
“My family has even been threatened with dire consequences if they pursue the case. They are pressing us for reconciliation, but I want justice,” the girl said.
She also alleged that the chemical examination report was ‘influenced’.
A local spokesman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)said: “The victim is seeking justice under the newly introduced women protection laws. The FIR is properly registered and a culprit under these sections is liable to be awarded capital punishment or life sentence. However, the police bowed down before influential people and released the accused declaring them innocent. Of course, the police are criminally involved in this case.”
It seemed strange that the chemical examination report was sent back so promptly, he said, adding that normally it takes months for completion of such reports.
Investigation Officer sub-inspector Abdul Majeed said: “I investigated the case and found the accused innocent as per the report of the chemical examiner”. SHO concerned said: “K came to us and we registered an FIR. After completion of investigation the accused were found innocent.”
DPO Malik Abdul Aziz said the FIR was registered but the investigation found no evidence against the accused. However, he added, further investigation was still in progress.
Source: Dawn
Date:9/3/2007
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