Haripur incident: Abuse victim provided shelter and security

Along with shelter, she will also be with two police guards for round-the-clock security.


Express June 19, 2011

HARIPUR:


The district administration shifted on Saturday Shaheen*, a victim of sexual abuse, and her family to an official residence in the Pak-China Fertiliser Colony, police officials told The Express Tribune.


Along with shelter, she will also be with two police guards for round-the-clock security as well as meals three times a day, District Police Officer Haripur Muhammad Ali Khan Gandapur said. Shaheen, 45, wife of Saleem*, was paraded naked in the streets of Neelor Bala village, following an alleged decision of a local jirga to settle the matter of divorce between Shabbir* and his wife Sadia*, who was accused of having  illicit relations with Shaheen’s son Karim* and his cousin Rashid*.

In retaliation, Shabbir, along with his brothers Manzoor, Arsalan and Imran, stormed Karim’s house. Upon learning he had fled the village they dragged Shaheen out of the house, disrobed her and paraded her around the village.

The police registered a case against Shabbir and his brothers under non-bailable section 554-A. Shabbir, Arsalan and Imran were arrested on Thursday, while Manzoor still remains at large. The police requested seven days physical remand for interrogating them but the judicial magistrate’s court granted four days remand and arrested three of them.

The police also arrested three jirga members – Basheer Abbasi, Raqeeb and Matloob.

When the issue was brought to the limelight, the provincial machinery swung into action and Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Minister for Women Affairs Sitara Ayaz paid a visit to the victim and assured her of every support.

Police security has also been provided to Sadia.

*All names have been changed to protect identities





Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.

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