Hindu teenager's gang-rape by PPP leader's son, others in Thatta sparks outrage

Sindh Home Minister says two govt employees arrested; action will be taken irrespective of the rapists' influence

KARACHI: The gang-rape and torture of a Hindu youth in Thatta, Sindh reportedly at the hands of a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader's son and half a dozen other men has sparked outrage on social media.

The assault took place in the Darro town of Sajawal district while the video was put up online.

According to reports, the main accused Arbab Ibrahim Memon is son of PPP leader Rameezul Haq. Haq had contested elections on the party's ticket in the previous general elections.

The family of the 19-year-old victim P*, has reportedly migrated to another town and could not be reached despite several attempts.

"Two employees of the health department, Saleh Memon and Saleem Ghugho have been suspended and I have ordered police to take action and arrest the culprits involved," Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial told The Express Tribune.



When asked about the main accused, Sial said: "Police are on it. We will take action irrespective of influence of these rapists."

Thatta SSP Fida Hussain Janwari said that they are ready to take action against the accused but the victim's family is not cooperating.

On the other hand, human rights organisations condemned the incident and demanded the government and the Supreme Court to take notice of it.

According to the Executive Director Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Karamat Ali, the main culprit enjoys the support of police and other PPP leaders.

He said that such incidents against the individuals of minorities are creating unrest among the non-Muslim communities.

* Names withheld to protect identity of the victim