Rape victim dies in Multan

The woman was brought to the hospital on October 23 in critical condition with 40 per cent of her body already burned

MULTAN: A 20-year-old woman died in Multan’s Nishtar Hospital on Tuesday some 12 days after she was set on fire and raped.

The woman was brought to the hospital on October 23 in a critical condition with 40 per cent of her body already burned. The girl in her statement claimed that a shopkeeper, Latif, had sexually assaulted and later immolated her after dousing her with petrol. But the police contradicting her version of events, insisting that it was a case of suicide.

A medical report later corroborated the girl’s statement. Once the medical report went public, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and the SHO Basti Malook police station was suspended.

Later, another investigation was carried out by Multan’s regional police officer (RPO). A first information report (FIR) was registered under section 302 and the suspect was arrested. In the wake of the woman’s death, her parents appealed to Punjab chief minister provide them justice. They alleged that the police were still trying to protect the suspect.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2015.