Tag: rape

  • ‘Rape is an act of violence’: Pakistanis educate PM Imran on rape

    ‘Rape is an act of violence’: Pakistanis educate PM Imran on rape

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday held an interactive session with the general public via phone calls in which he answered their questions and responded to their concerns.

    During the session, while responding to a question about what the federal government is doing to curb the recent surge of rape cases and sexual violence especially against children, PM Khan instead of laying out his government’s plans blamed the rising cases on vulgarity.

    The premier’s comments caused an uproar on social media, prompting Pakistanis to not only bust myths related to rape but also call him out for his insensitive remarks. Some even shared their own personal experiences to make it more clear that why rape happens and why it is never okay to blame the victim.

  • Ahsan Khan says Kohat rape case ‘is a reflection of our failure as a society’

    Ahsan Khan is demanding justice for three-year-old Hareem Fatima, who was brutally murdered after being sexually assaulted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)’s Kohat district. According to reports, Fatima’s father lodged a complaint with the police stating that Hareem went out to play with other children but unfortunately did not return.

    “Another Twitter trend, another baby girl, another rape, another family destroyed. Another story,” said Ahsan. “Would be remembered for few days and forgotten.”

    “We always talk about upbringing and protection of our daughters, maybe it’s time for us to stress on raising our sons right,” said the actor further, stressing on the importance of educating children.

    “The Kohat incident is a reflection of our failure as a society,” he added.

    Read more – Motorway rape case culprits handed death sentence

    Despite the introduction of an Anti-Rape Ordinance by the government, rape cases continue to rise in the country. The Current is maintaining a daily tally of cases and the numbers are alarming.

    According to a report published by a child protection NGO Sahil, at least 173 children were gang-raped in Pakistan in the first six months of 2020, whereas there were 227 reports of attempted sexual assault. 

  • Motorway rape case culprits handed death sentence

    Motorway rape case culprits handed death sentence

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has handed two culprits in the motorway rape case – Abid Malhi and Shafqat Bagga – a death sentence. They have also been sentenced to prison for life and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each.

    According to reports, the two have been sentenced to death for gang-raping a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway in September 2020. The court, which had earlier reserved the verdict, announced it today at Lahore’s Camp Jail, where the trial took place.

    This is the first time that convicts in a gang-rape case have been handed death sentences.

    The court has also ordered to confiscate the two convicts’ properties.

    THE INCIDENT

    A woman, along with her three children, was driving to Gujranwala in her car when she was forced to stop at the Gujjarpura section of the Lahore-Sialkot motorway after running out of fuel at around 1:30 am in September 2020.

    She immediately called a relative and sent him her location. He asked her to also dial the Motorway Police helpline 130 but she was reportedly refused help.

    In the meantime, two robbers approached the car, broke the window and took the woman and her children to nearby bushes where they raped her repeatedly in front of the children. They also snatched her purse that had cash around Rs100,000, one bracelet, car registration and three ATM cards.

    Read more – ‘We took her kids to the bushes to make her follow us,’ says man who gang-raped mother of three

    The Gujjarpura police have registered a case, while Motorway Police spokesperson said they had not been able to take action as the incident did not occur in the limits of Motorway Police.

    The case had sparked outrage and protests across the country following which the government formulated the Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020, under which special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials of rape cases on a priority basis and award harsher sentences, such as chemical castration.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Rape victims will have to pay Rs25,000 for medical examination?

    Sexual assault victims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will have to pay Rs25,000 for medical examination as the forensic department of Khyber Medical College University (KMCU) has proposed new charges for its services, The Express Tribune reported.

    According to reports, besides the medical examination of rape victims fee, an autopsy will now cost Rs5,000 for Peshawar residents and Rs25,000 for those from other districts, keeping dead bodies in the morgue will cost Rs1,500 for a single day while a fee of Rs18,000 has been suggested for DNA testing.

    Officials said the 17 new charges were proposed in a February 14 meeting of the Management Committee, and have been introduced to meet the operational expenditures of the department.

    Among other proposed charges are Rs2,000 for urine test and alcohol analysis, and Rs4,000 for poison detection test.

    KMCU Dean Dr Aurangzeb has said that the new charges for services were just a proposal discussed in the meeting. “The profits generated from these charges will go to the public exchequer, which will help in the betterment of services.”

  • Faysal Quraishi urges society to support rape survivors

    Faysal Quraishi urges society to support rape survivors

    Faysal Quraishi has said that rape is a stigma for perpetrators, not the victims.

    In a tweet, the actor said: “In light of recent news regarding a couple that kidnapped young girls, raped and recorded this heinous act – only one came forward and 45 didn’t for fear of society and stigma.”

    “Humari society apna qibla sahi karay, stigma perpetrator kay liye and victim kay liye support honi chaiyae,” he added.

    According to details, a local court has convicted a couple from Rawalpindi for luring girls and filming their rape to blackmail them. They were arrested in 2019.

    Additional District and Sessions Judge Jahangir Gondal awarded a death sentence to Qasim Jahangir over rape and recording explicit videos. Jahangir was also given a three-year prison sentence in addition to a life sentence and has to pay a fine of Rs2.5 million. His wife Kiran Mahmood has also been sentenced to life and has to pay a fine.

    The couple was tracked and arrested following a complaint lodged by a girl with the CPO Rawalpindi.

    Read more – President okays anti-rape law for speedy trials, harsher sentences

    According to the police, the girl, who was a student of MSc, in her statement said that the couple lured her into their car and took her to a house where she was raped and filmed. She shared that she was coming out of her college when a masked woman came to her and started talking to her. After introducing herself as a student at a local girls’ college, the two went for a walk before a car stopped near them and asked the two women to sit inside. The masked woman introduced the driver as her close relative and asked her to sit in the car.

    As soon as the girl was inside the car, black curtains were drawn and the car was taken to a house located in Gulistan Colony, where the accused raped her at gunpoint, while his wife filmed the scene.

    City Police Officer (CPO) Muhammad Faisal Rana said the couple had confessed to raping as many as 45 minors and filming their rape.

  • President okays anti-rape law for speedy trials, harsher sentences

    President okays anti-rape law for speedy trials, harsher sentences

    President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday approved Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020, under which special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials of rape cases on a priority basis and award harsher sentences, such as chemical castration.

    The special courts will dispose of the rape cases within four months, as per the ordinance that also abolishes the ‘two fingers’ virginity test in the rape cases.

    The ordinance also suggests setting up of anti-rape crisis cells under the supervision of the prime minister, which will be authorised to conduct medico-legal examination within six hours of the incident.

    A record will be prepared at the national level with help of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to register the perpetrators of sexual abuse. The ordinance prohibits revealing of the identity of rape victims, making it a punishable offence.

    Police and government officials who show negligence in investigating the cases would be jailed for three years along with the imposition of fines. Additionally, police and government officials who provide false information would also be punished.

    On Nov 7, the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases had approved two ordinances to introduce harsher punishments, including chemical castration, for sex offenders.

    According to a statement issued by the law ministry at the time, the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 would introduce the concept of chemical castration mainly as a “form of rehabilitation”.

    Responding to the new ordinances after their approval by the cabinet in November, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman had expressed her displeasure over lowering the statutory age for rape to 13 from 16.

    “The age of alleged ‘consent’ has been moved to 13 from 16 in the new ordinance, which is terrible,” commented the lawmaker. “How will an adolescent be responsible for ‘consent’. This makes younger children even more vulnerable.”

  • ‘Marry three widows and I’ll get you a fourth wife… one 16yo, two eight-year-olds or four four-year-olds’

    ‘Marry three widows and I’ll get you a fourth wife… one 16yo, two eight-year-olds or four four-year-olds’

    Renowned religious leader Mufti Tariq Masood has come under fire over a sermon wherein he is endorsing child marriages and paedophilia, guaranteeing his followers a minor bride as their fourth wife if they marry three widows or divorcees.

    “Change my name if I don’t get you a fourth and virgin wife after you marry three widows or divorcees,” he was heard as saying in an undated video doing the rounds on social media.

    https://twitter.com/Shehzad89/status/1327342661620129792

    “Mufti Tariq Masood will find you a 16-year-old or two eight-year-olds or four four year-olds,” he tells his followers after which they, as well as the cleric himself, start laughing.

    The video surfaces as Pakistan reports over 90 rape cases within a single month, most of which involved minors.

    The latest case that shook the entire nation remains that of a four-year-old who, along with her mother, was repeatedly subjected to sexual assault in the Kashmore district of Sindh.

    The minor girl is currently admitted to a hospital battling for her life.

    Meanwhile, here’s what Twitterati have to say about Mufti Tariq’s statement:

    https://twitter.com/nishaa_z/status/1327358024663638022

    Have something to add to the story? Let The Current know in the comments.

  • Cop arrested for allegedly raping actress on gunpoint

    Cop arrested for allegedly raping actress on gunpoint

    A policeman was reportedly arrested on Monday after a case was registered against him for allegedly raping a female dancer at a hotel in Lahore on gunpoint.

    According to a first information report (FIR) filed at the city’s Garden Town police station, the stage actress has alleged that a constable named Kabir hired her for a dance function and took her to a hotel where she was raped at gunpoint.

    Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Inam Ghani has taken notice of the incident and directed CCPO Lahore to submit a report in this regard.

    The IGP also ordered departmental and legal action.

    https://youtu.be/CrLNb129wWg

    It is pertinent to mention here that the victim had lodged a similar case against a man named Adil at Changa Manga police station a year ago.

  • Dhoni’s 5-year-old daughter gets rape threats

    Dhoni’s 5-year-old daughter gets rape threats

    In a disturbing development, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s five-year-old daughter has received rape threats from social media trolls following Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Tuesday night match of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    CSK failed to chase a 168-run target, losing the game by 10 runs. Dhoni’s wife, Sakshi, got the threats on her Instagram account.

    The threats created an outrage on social media, especially from women, as support poured in for the Dhonis, especially little Ziva.

    Actor-turned-politician Nagma tweeted, “Where are we headed as a Nation? It’s disgusting Dhoni’s 5-Year-Old Daughter Ziva is Getting Rape Threats after CSK Lost IPL Match to KKR. Mr #PM what is this happening In our country?? [sic]”

    Sowmya Reddy, member of the legislative assembly (MLA) from Karnataka, said, “This is just nasty! What’s happening to our country? Where are we heading?”

    Rajya Sabha [upper house of the bicameral Indian parliament] lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, “This has to be the most disgusting example of how social media platforms are being misused.”

    Fans have often taken out their ire on the players. In earlier days, they have even pelted stones at players’ homes, burnt posters and shouted abuses.

    However, targeting the daughter of a player in such a way has been unheard of before.

  • Gujranwala girl, who approached police for case against harassers, ‘raped by assistant sub-inspector’

    Gujranwala girl, who approached police for case against harassers, ‘raped by assistant sub-inspector’

    A girl in Gujranwala, who had approached the police for the registration of a case against at least two men who assaulted her, was allegedly raped by the assistant sub-inspector (ASI) responsible to serve justice.

    According to media reports, the incident took place when the girl, along with her father, approached Aroop police in Gujranwala to lodge a complaint against two men who had torn her clothes while assaulting her on September 9.

    ASI Mubashar was appointed as the inquiry officer to look into the matter. The cop, however, instead of initiating legal action against the accused, sexually assaulted the woman.

    “He kept calling me ‘sister’ and raped me,” the survivor said in a statement, adding that it was followed by the force pressurising her family and her to not pursue the matter.

    Having lost faith in the local police, the survivor’s family has now approached Gujranwala city police officer (CPO), who has reportedly ordered a probe.

    While the victim and her family continue to allege that senior police officials are also trying to save the ASI, The Current has learnt that Cantonment Superintendent of Police (SP) Hafeezur Rehman has vowed prompt justice.

    “The case will be investigated on merit and departmental action will be initiated against the policeman if he is found guilty of rape,” he was quoted as saying.

    Meanwhile, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani has also reportedly taken notice of the incident and directed the officials concerned to submit to him a detailed report. 

    Medical reports of the girl were awaited by the time this report was filed.