Three of the accused were arrested and detained at the Dera Din Panah police station, including the head of the Panchayat, while two remain at large. PHOTO: EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB
LAHORE: A 40-year old widow was raped by men of her village by the order of a panchayat in Mauza Rakh Tibba Sharqi, in Muzaffargarh district, The Express Tribune has learnt.
After receiving information about the incident, the police have arrested three suspects, including the leader of the panchayat and two of the alleged rapists, Investigation Officer (IO) Assadullah Khan informed The Express Tribune. Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident, Express News correspondent Naeem Qaiser reported.
Assadullah also said that an FIR was filed on the complaint of the victim against five of the accused persons. However, while the FIR was filed under charges of 'attempted rape', the victim alleges that she was already raped, and only filed the said FIR under pressure from the police.
Sources familiar with the incident said that the rape was ordered to avenge illicit relations between a woman from the family of the rapists and the brother of the rape victim.
The 40-member panchayat had decided that the widow should be punished for her brother’s illicit relations with the daughter of the alleged rapist. The father and his two sons carried out the ‘punishment.’
The rape took place on January 24 when five men locked the widow inside a room while the panchayat -- who had declared that ‘dishonour should be avenged by dishonour’ -- waited outside, reported Express News
The accused later threatened the widow that they would kill her if she raised her voice against them.
IO Assadullah Khan said that all efforts were being made to arrest the remaining accused as soon as possible.
COMMENTS (50)
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@Bash UK: When you make statements against the women in families of men to prove a point, you are displaying the same mentality as the above jirgas - that women should face the punishment for men. Sick. If you want it to stop, stop insulting other men by bringing their wife/daughter/mother/sister into it. Keep it to that specific person.
@Imranbashir:
So if your family member was raped, you're advice to your mother /sister/wife would be enjoy, Wish you don't have to wait long..
For God sake, how can they call themselves Muslims when they are not even humans. Really feel ashamed, even after Mukhtaran Mai, these people do not stop. Don't know when are we going to be literate.
Sex for Sex. Blood money for murders.
Honestly, these people make me sick. It is horrible to see these perverts running their punchyats with a screwed up understanding of everything including religion. They need to be punished so harshly that it will become an example for the rest of Pakistan to not take law in their hands ... unfortunately, from police to judiciary every one is corrupt and nepotism is everywhere, not sure how and when things will improve, however, a good start will be from GDP!
@Hari Om: Oh really. Shame on you for gloating on such a terrible incident.
Please do not use the word "Jirga" for Panchayat. Jirga is totally different than Panchayat.
@Raj u.s.a, Little while ago in U.P city of Muzafernafer with poor indian muslims and i think u knew of that most likelly after that u guys have no rights to say a word.
@Jay: "Couple of weeks backs Pakistanis were so happy when a similar incident happened in India. Now what say fellas?"
Are you NOT ashamed? ???? (intentional additional ????s for you)
I am. As an Indian and as a South Asian and just as a normal human.
I am also ashamed of reading/knowing people like you, who make it a shouting match amongst ourselves, rather than the issue.
..Ashamed to the core ......of my society's of this particular behavior and folks like you. .Just Ashamed
@ Aysha M dear in the last this is not 'wa ra jay oon ' only ra jay oon.
The big problem with events such as gang rape, honour killings etc is that once the police become involved the case becomes Sub Judice, and then it is very difficult to determine what really happened until the trial is finished, if of course a trial ever takes place. Statistics indicate that 8 women per day are raped in Pakistan, and justice rarely prevails. Pakistan really needs to lift its game in regard to crime against females many of whom are under the age of 10. However, although there is no bright side in regard to rape the percentage of rape occurrences in Pakistan, and presuming the statistics are accurate, is approximately 0.0016%. This means that over well over 99% of Pakistani men are law abiding as far as rape is concerned. I would presume that Indian men would be similar law abiding citizens.
@Salman Hasan: I think the entire South Asian Sub-continent just needs to be nuked. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. World’s most disgusting people by far.
Hasan ji, I can feel the anger and frustration in your post. Any society that cannot respect its fairer sex is bound to go down the gutters of history. We don't deserve to be called humans.
Couple of weeks backs Pakistanis were so happy when a similar incident happened in India. Now what say fellas?
we need Shriah courts guys or not?????
@Salman Hasan:
Pls don't always talk of sealing fate of millions just because there are some low lives in every south Asian country. People are sexually frusytated ,held back because of religion suddenly burst into rape sprees are the culprit. Not the child going to the store to buy candy that has to see a mushroom cloud.
This is disgusting. When will people spare the women from all these punishments? When people will start behaving like human beings? The Panchayat leader along with the rapists should be sentenced to death. Until and unless we have stricter laws for such crimes, they will never stop.
It is really interesting that at one place we call our self MUSLIM and implement blasphemy corollary to any antagonist, though we our self are taint and involved in venomous acts contradictory to our religion. I suggest that both the PANCHAYAT leader and rapist should be cremated publicly so as to avoid future occurrence. May ALLAH (SWT) give us sanity to decide between RIGHT and WRONG.
And we pray for peace from Allah (swt)
What values are we transferring to our generations? Our stack of shameless acts is expanding exponentially! What a shame!
Animals! They should be hanged in public BUT in the state of the pure, terrorists and the corrupt roam free.
@ Aysha M
I am afraid as an India, I have to agree with you on this one. We are indeed disgusting people.
@Salman Hasan: Such crimes are though heinous yet frustration to the extent of maligning the nations is ridiculous. Those so-called torch bearers (i.e., The West) of human rights do have their own share of nauseating sexual & 3rd degree moral crimes.
This is disgusting!
I think the entire South Asian Sub-continent just needs to be nuked. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. World's most disgusting people by far.
Inna lil lahay wa ina ahlai hay wa ra jay oon