Woman threatens to commit suicide outside PM’s secretariat

Woman was allegedly raped by influential tribesmen in the constituency of AJK PM

MUZAFFARABAD: A woman, who was allegedly raped by influential tribesmen in the constituency of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister five days ago, has threatened to commit suicide in front of the prime minister’s secretariat unless she gets justice.

The 24-year-old woman, who is the mother of a child, told a news conference on Wednesday that she had travelled from Khatar Muradabad to the Karli village near Zalzal lake in Chikar to visit her elder sister on Friday morning, some 43 kilometres away from Muzaffarabad.



While returning from her sister’s house, an influential tribesman RN* along with two accomplices forced her into their jeep and took her to a nearby hut in the forest where they allegedly raped her.

She added that her elder sister and husband tried to save her from the alleged rapist who in turn abused them.

“I begged the rapist in the hut [to let me go] but he ruined my entire world,” the victim said.

She added that when she shared the entire ordeal with her husband, he asked her to leave it since they belong to the weakest tribe in the area and that the powerful tribe may kill them.

The victim said that the helplessness of her husband shocked her and on Saturday she tried to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. However, her family rushed her to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Hattian Bala where her stomach was pumped by doctors and referred to Sheikh Khalifa Bin-Zayed Al-Nahyan hospital for further treatment.

“On Wednesday, I was discharged from the hospital. Our family decided to bring the entire story to the government’s notice with the aim of saving other poor daughters of the area,” she said, adding, “We urge the government to register a kidnapping case against the rapist with anti-terrorism clauses.”

Later, Jehlum Valley Deputy Commissioner Hameed Kiyani told The Express Tribune that initially, her family was not ready to submit an application against the alleged rapist.



However, after collecting details of the incident, the district administration had registered an FIR against the alleged rapist on behalf of the state.

“I and Jehlum Valley SSP personally visited Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan hospital on Tuesday to record the victim’s statement,” Kayani said, adding that the influential tribe had handed over the alleged rapist over to police custody.

“However, to submit the final charge sheet against the alleged rapist, there needs to be a medical checkup of the victim,” he said adding that justice would be delivered at any cost.

*NAME WITHHELD TO PROTECT IDENTITY