Rape victim dies as SC takes suo motu notice

DG KHAN/ ISLAMABAD: The alleged rape victim who attempted self-immolation on Thursday after her alleged rapist was granted bail succumbed to her injuries as the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the incident on Friday.

The alleged rape victim A*, a first year student, set herself on fire in front of Bait Mir Hazar police station in Muzaffargarh on Thursday in protest against the release of her alleged rapist on bail.

She was rushed to Nishtar Hospital in Multan where she succumbed to her burn injuries Friday morning. Her body was handed over to her family after post-mortem examination and was later buried in her native village.

She was allegedly kidnapped and subsequently raped by four men on January 5. The girl identified one of them as Nadir Hussain, who was nominated in the FIR lodged with the police. However, the investigating officer (IO), Zulfiqar, declared the prime accused innocent.

On Friday, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the incident and summoned Punjab’s IGP and advocate general and Muzaffargarh’s district police officer (DPO) on March 17.

A three-judge bench – headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani – also directed the IGP to file a written report, highlighting the allegations leveled by the victim, evidence recorded by the IO, findings of the medico legal/DNA report, and the reasons cited by the IO for declaring the prime accused innocent.

“The report shall also apprise this court as to whether or not the findings of the investigating officer was verified by a higher police officer, i.e., SDPO or DPO,” the bench noted.

The court observed that the news was not a flattering commentary on the justice system and in particular the working of police.

“The incident also reflects violation of the mandatory provisions of law, police rules and a judgment of this court reported at Salman Akram Raja vs Government of Punjab through chief secretary (2013 SCMR 203),” it added.

(* name of the victim has been omitted to protect identity)

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2014.