Injustice: Gang-raped child attempts suicide

LAHORE:

The 15-year-old gang-rape survivor attempted suicide on Friday night. her family said. They said she had been under constant pressure from police and prosecution personnel.

On Saturday, a magistrate had to postpone recording of her statement.

“She jumped off the terrace while everyone was getting ready to sleep,” a family member told . He said she had injured herself and was rushed to Services Hospital.

She is now back home recovering, he added.

He said she had been under pressure from the police.

Her family claimed that she had attempted suicide under pressure as police officials had asked her “obnoxious” questions during investigation.

Investigation Officer Falak denied her family’s claim. “We are investigating the case impartially and professionally,” he said.

On saturday, a judicial magistrate fixed January 6 for recording her statement.

At the start of the hearing, her counsel told the court that she was unable to record her statement on account of her health situation. The court then fixed January 6 for the purpose.

Accused Abdul Majid, Muhammad Umer, Ameer Ahmed, Haris, Bilawal, Zaman, Mian Adnan Snaullah and Imran are on judicial remand till January 3.

At previous proceedings, Race Course police had requested extension in remand to conduct DNA tests of the accused.

Police had registered a case against the accused on the complaint of the victim’s mother.

The complainant, a resident of Multan Road, told police that her daughter, a grade 8 student, went missing after she went to a nearby shop.

The family then filed a missing-person report with police. Two days latter they were informed that the girl was lying in a hotel room on Upper Mall.

Police took her from the hotel to a hospital. They also arrested six suspects, including the hotel manager.

The medical examination of the victim, conducted at Services Hospital, proved that she had been raped. The complainant told police that the victim had said that she had been assaulted by more than 10 people.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.