In search of justice: Girl attempts suicide after rape complaint ‘ignored’
Her family says she was raped by a ‘pir’ who was asked to exorcise her.
Asma Bibi*, 22, had reported feeling unwell last week. An aunt had then taken her to Pir Asghar in Chak 285-GB for an exorcism. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
A girl, allegedly raped by a pir on Wednesday, tried to commit suicide on Friday. She was taken to the Toba Tek Singh district headquarters hospital where doctors later said her condition was critical.
Asma Bibi*, 22, had reported feeling unwell last week. An aunt had then taken her to Pir Asghar in Chak 285-GB for an exorcism.
Naeem Mehmood, a close relative of the victim, told media persons that the pir told the girl’s aunt that he needed to exorcise her in a separate room.
Mehmood said that Asghar raped the girl and threatened to kill her if she spoke about it to anyone, but when she emerged from the room she couldn’t walk, he said.
He said her aunt informed the men in the family and they called a panchayat. Mehmood said the panchayat assured them that they would take the pir to task. “But on Thursday, they pressured the family to withdraw their complaint and threatened them with dire consequences if they didn’t.”
Mehmood said they had approached Rajana police but they “refused to take action against the pir”.
When Asma Bibi learnt that she wouldn’t get justice, she swallowed poison, Mehmood said.
He said, “We took her to the tehsil headquarters hospital from where she was referred to the Toba Tek Singh district headquarters hospital.”
The Rajana station house officer told The Express Tribune that they had arrested Asghar and were waiting for a medico-legal report.
The station house officer told The Express Tribune that they had begun investigating the incident after the girl’s family filed the complaint.
We also assured the victim and her family that they would register a case against Pir Asghar if we found him guilty...but some people among the girl’s relatives spread a rumour that we had been influenced by the pir and were reluctant to register a case.”
Names have been changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
A girl, allegedly raped by a pir on Wednesday, tried to commit suicide on Friday. She was taken to the Toba Tek Singh district headquarters hospital where doctors later said her condition was critical.
Asma Bibi*, 22, had reported feeling unwell last week. An aunt had then taken her to Pir Asghar in Chak 285-GB for an exorcism.
Naeem Mehmood, a close relative of the victim, told media persons that the pir told the girl’s aunt that he needed to exorcise her in a separate room.
Mehmood said that Asghar raped the girl and threatened to kill her if she spoke about it to anyone, but when she emerged from the room she couldn’t walk, he said.
He said her aunt informed the men in the family and they called a panchayat. Mehmood said the panchayat assured them that they would take the pir to task. “But on Thursday, they pressured the family to withdraw their complaint and threatened them with dire consequences if they didn’t.”
Mehmood said they had approached Rajana police but they “refused to take action against the pir”.
When Asma Bibi learnt that she wouldn’t get justice, she swallowed poison, Mehmood said.
He said, “We took her to the tehsil headquarters hospital from where she was referred to the Toba Tek Singh district headquarters hospital.”
The Rajana station house officer told The Express Tribune that they had arrested Asghar and were waiting for a medico-legal report.
The station house officer told The Express Tribune that they had begun investigating the incident after the girl’s family filed the complaint.
We also assured the victim and her family that they would register a case against Pir Asghar if we found him guilty...but some people among the girl’s relatives spread a rumour that we had been influenced by the pir and were reluctant to register a case.”
Names have been changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.