A woman has reportedly been tortured and raped by a university student in the underpass of the Metro Bus Station in Rehmanabad, reports Dawn.
According to the Police Investigating Officer (IO), the suspect, identified as Talal Munir, is studying Information Technology (IT). He was arrested by the local police right after the First Information Report (FIR).
The survivor is a resident of Lahore. She complained to New Town police that she informed her brother about a job in a boys’ hostel, which was advertised on the Facebook account of the suspect.
According to her statement, her brother contacted the suspect. She then travelled to Rawalpindi with her aunt.
The victim said that upon reaching the location, the suspect forcibly took her to a boy’s dormitory, where he began slapping her and closed the door from inside. Later, she said she was taken to the underpass and raped.
Police said the victim was taken to a hospital for medical examination. However, a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test of both the victim and the suspect is yet to be conducted.
According to the Punjab Police, the main suspect is under interrogation, while a search is underway to find the other suspects.
Moreover, the police have confirmed that the rape survivor underwent medical examination and a DNA sample is being taken, adding that the action has been initiated to arrest the other suspects.
The suspects lured the young woman from Toba Tek Singh on the pretext of offering her a job.
In the First Information Report (FIR), the survivor’s paternal aunt said that her 18-year-old niece received a message on her mobile phone for a job interview in Gojra.
Her aunt said that upon reaching the place, the suspects put the survivor into a car, raped her on the motorway, and fled after throwing her at the Faisalabad Interchange.
Pakistan has been plagued by episodes of rape and abuse over the years that it has now become common to the extent that people have started normalising such acts.
Back in 2002, Mukhtaran Mai’s gang-rape was one of the most horrifying gang-rape incidents that were reported.
Another major incident that took place in 2014 was the Layyah gang-rape case, where a 20-year-old girl after being gang-raped, was found hanging from a tree. Such inhumane incidents haven’t stopped even now.
Two men stole her money and the jewellery she had on her. They then raped her in front of her two children in a nearby field and escaped.
The incident sparked national outrage but what happened next? Before the arrest of the two culprits, questions like “Why was she out on the motorway so late without a brother or husband? Why didn’t she check her gas tank before leaving the house? And if she had to travel, why didn’t she take the more public GT Road route?” were asked because, sadly, in our country ‘getting raped’ is the woman’s fault. Apparently, a woman gets raped because ‘she was driving alone, on the wrong road, at the wrong time, in the wrong place’.
Later, the motorway rapists were sentenced to death but rape cases continued to rise in Pakistan.
On October 12, 2020, our team started counting rape cases on a daily basis from 13 different sources, which included these newspapers: Dawn, The News, The Express Tribune, The Nation, Pakistan Today, Daily Times, Nawa-e-Waqt, Daily Jang. And from these websites: ARY News, Geo News Samaa News Dunya News Aaj News.
It is to be noted that the given stats only include the reported incidents, not the ones that go unreported.
During the process, we have included reported rape cases of girls, boys, women, men and transgenders. Moreover, we have divided the rape cases province-wise, according to which Punjab till date has the highest number of rape cases, i.e. 936 rape cases and 44 attempted incidents.
It has been a year since we have started posting our rape template daily to analyse the record of reported rape cases. We have collected the data of the entire year (October 12, 2020 to October 12, 2021) and prepared slides of reported cases of each month provinces-wise.
Provinces Categorisation:
Sindh
Till date, Sindh has recorded a total of 60 reported rape cases in which 10 are attempted incidents. 11.6 per cent of cases were reported in the month of April and August as per the graph.
Punjab
Punjab has recorded a total of 936 reported rape cases in which 44 are attempted incidents until now. 13 per cent of cases were reported in August.
Islamabad
The capital has recorded a total of 13 reported rape cases which no attempted cases until now. The reported cases are relatively low as compared to other provinces’ data. However, 38.46 per cent of rape cases were reported in June this year.
Balochistan
Balochistan has reported a total of 11 reported rape cases. Most of the months show zero reported rape cases, according to the graph.
KPK
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has reported a total of 20 reported rape cases of which 2 were attempted incidents. The numbers throughout the months are quite the same.
Deaths (province-wise)
As per the graph, the death rate was high in the month of January i.e.14.5 per cent.
Numbers of the recorded cases after the highlighted incidents of 2021
After the following incidents, we noticed an increase in the reporting of rape cases.
Mufti Aziz-ur-Rehman: sexual assault case
On June 17, police registered a criminal complaint against Mufti Aziz after a male student accused him of sexual abuse. In the aftermath of a viral graphic video that showed Mufti engaging in sexual intercourse with the male student, who was the victim, the action was taken against Mufti Aziz. After the incident, we noticed an increase of 10.7 per cent in the reporting of rape cases in the month of June.
Usman Mirza’s sexual assault on a couple
Usman Mirza was arrested on July 7. He was seen torturing and assaulting a couple. He was also seen stripping naked a woman in the video. The video sparked outrage across Pakistan. After the petrifying incident, an increase of 9 per cent was observed in the reporting of rape cases in the month of July.
Noor Mukadam’s murder case
On July 20, Noor Mukadam, daughter of former Pakistani diplomat Shaukat Mukadam, was raped, beheaded and murdered, in a posh neighbourhood of Islamabad in July. Noor’s murder led to nationwide protests. After her murder, as per the reported cases we have monitored, there was an increase of 12.6 per cent in the month of August.
There are many more cases that are still unreported due to various reasons.
According to The News, official statistics obtained from the Police, Law, and Justice Commission of Pakistan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Women’s Foundation, and provincial welfare agencies in 2020 revealed that there are at least 11 rape cases reported in Pakistan every day with over 22,000 rape cases reported to the police across the country in the last six years.
A rickshaw driver along with his companion have allegedly gang-raped a woman and her minor daughter near LDA Avenue, ARY Newsreported on Monday.
According to the police statement of the victim, the rickshaw drove the mother and the daughter around before stopping it at a shady spot near LDA Avenue where the driver, along with his friend, allegedly raped them both.
The woman said she reached Thokar Niaz Baig on a coach and sat in a rickshaw for Saddar Cantt, but then the accused drove them wayward and finally parked the vehicle at LDA Avenue in the dark of the night.
Chung Police have arrested the suspect while the victims have been taken to the hospital for medical tests.
Police said they are still gathering more evidence into the case and confirmed the rickshaw had the registration plate LEU-4882, which the alleged rapist abandoned when victims shouted for help.
“They both raped me and my daughter one after another inside the rickshaw,” the victim said, adding that they ran away when they shouted for help. FIR states that the suspects snatched a phone and Rs5,000 cash from the woman as well.
Police have arrested an Imam Masjid in Faisalabad for trying to rape two minor girls.
As per reports, the parents of the girls did not want to file a complaint against the prayer leader after, but the police registered a case on the complaint of an inspector.
The applicant, Inspector Abdul Hameed, said he along with constables was on duty when he received information that a video had gone viral on social media that showed a prayer leader trying to rape a girl. The suspect, he said, also violated the sacredness of the mosque and the locals identified him.
The Sandal Bar police arrested the suspect and registered a case against him. City Police Officer Suhail Chaudhry said the suspect tried to rape two minor girls and the police immediately took action and registered a case though the girls’ families were not willing to pursue the case. He said the suspect was arrested and the girls have been sent to court for a statement.
A six-year-old girl was raped and then killed in Karachi on Wednesday. The girl went missing from Karachi’s Korangi area and was later found dead in a dumpster in the city.
SSP Korangi Shahjahan Khan said that a girl from Korangi was reported missing. Her parents told the police that their daughter went to play outside but did not return.
Taking action after the parents’ complaint, the police started an operation and found the body of the girl. The minor was allegedly raped and later choked to death.
Medical Laboratory Observer, Dr Samia, said samples for DNA and other tests have been collected. The detailed report will confirm how many suspects raped the girl, she added.
As per reports, the body of the girl named Maham was shifted to the hospital for postmortem. The autopsy report confirmed that the girl was killed after being sexually assaulted.
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has expressed her disappointment with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement regarding women’s attire and potential rape threat.
Taking to her Instagram story, Saheefa said Pakistanis had chosen Khan as PM to solve the problems and not for giving irrelevant statements.
“We have chosen you to make our country better and not for giving irrelevant statements,” Saheefa called out. “Firstly, do justice with teenage girls who were sexually abused and then give such statements,” the actor stressed.
“Every time, you [PM Khan] start blaming the opposition. Kindly, do not do that, people want you to solve their problems and not just blaming the opposition,” she added.
The Boom Boom rendition singer Meesha has also tweeted on PM’s statement.
“To matlab bachay bhi aurton ke kapron kee wajah se rape ho rahay hain?”, tweeted Shafi.
To matlab bachay bhi aurton ke kapron kee wajah se rape ho rahay hain?
Maria Wasti recently gave an interview in which she spoke on a wide range of topics, from politics to the entertainment industry.
“I would like to say to Prime Minister Imran Khan Ghabrana Nahi Hai [not to be scared],” said the actress, appearing as a guest at the show Jashan-e-Cricket.
Without mentioning it directly, she spoke about the recent controversy triggered by the prime minister’s comments on women’s dressing and the rise in cases of sexual abuse and rape.
“The PM should weigh his words before speaking on international forums,” she said.
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.
“Purda ka hukm isi liye ha”
No! ‘Parda’ ka hukm is liye nahi hai! Purda was NEVER meant to avert temptation.
Quran says that no one will be answerable for another person’s sins. The idea that women hide themselves up so that men don’t commit any sin is against Quranic values. pic.twitter.com/2oBBcNiMF9
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.
Repeat after me.
The only one to be blamed for rape of a woman is “ The Rapist”.
In Sept 2020, I had to sit through a torturous hearing of a 20 yr old woman raped repeatedly by her own blood father for 8 years in Karachi East District and Sessions Court.
Pray tell more, how rape is about sexual desires of men towards children, that too their own.
— Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada (@zuhaib_pirzada) April 5, 2021
To anyone channeling Prime Minister Imran Khan and thinking rape is because of ‘fahaashi’ or lack of ‘pardah’. No, rape is: NOT the woman’s fault, NOT because she was wearing less clothes and so she ‘asked for it’,
Dear @ImranKhanPTI rape is a result of power imbalance not temptation. Rapists control their urges when they’ve fear of retribution, accountability & conviction and when they’re made free from such fears due to gendered social structures just like ours they’ll even rape an infant
So easy to blame women and their pardah for fahashi, but don’t actually hold men accountable for being sexual perverts. @ImranKhanPTI – it’s not acceptable to victim blame almost 50% of your nation. Just not acceptable. https://t.co/tDcIOLumNq
Study found that “most convicted rapists could not remember what their victims were wearing.”
“In one study, 1 in 3 college men said that they would force someone to have sex if they could get away with it, and that has nothing to do with clothing.”https://t.co/EUbmz5nPJX
Still pushing the “rape happens because women show skin” discourse is sooooo lazy. Really, dude? After all the work, the research, the campaigns, the flipping logic, this is the conclusion you draw? Exercise some of that brain lard and then maybe we can actually talk solutions.
This is so common! It happens 2 school going girls, women.All of us. Using public transport/walking streets I wear my knapsack upfront. Its a shame. These streets belong 2 women as well. It will take persistence /perseverance 2 break this mould of self entitled toxic masculinity https://t.co/tjrSNzRAdP
A woman’s body belongs 2 her. Our bodies are sensitive & often women themselves are not given the mental freedom 2 understand how amazing & intricate our bodies are. No man has the right 2 force himself upon you. If you feel unheard, unseen, trapped & disrespected, find support
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.
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 areport 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.
A child protection court on Saturday sentenced a cleric to death for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in Peshawar two years ago. Judge Wadeeya Mustaq Malik ruled that Qari Saeed based in Peshawar was found guilty of an offence of rape.
As per reports, the convict was also given a fine of Rs300,000 as the girl had suffered mental and physical torture and lifelong trauma. The convict should compulsorily pay a fine to her in the form of saving certificates to be withdrawn by her on reaching the age of 18 years, stated the court in its order.
“As far as the quantum of sentence is concerned, no mitigating circumstances could be found and rather, aggravating circumstances exist. The rape was committed of a girl aged eight years,” said the judge, adding that the convict was a mosque’s pesh imam (prayer leader), who committed the crime in one of its rooms.
The convict held the Master’s degree in Islamiyat and led Friday prayers in his mosque.
The court added that the crime was gruesome, as the convict was also found guilty of committing sexual violence by biting and bruising the child on her neck.
“The statement of child witness not only found confidence-inspiring, truthful but also has not been contradicted on the material aspect,” said the court. “[The] sole testimony of [the] victim of an offence if inspires confidence can be safely relied upon for the purpose of conviction and when as rule of prudence same is supported through confirmatory medical evidence not a single circumstances can be inferred for false implication of the accused facing trial at behest of police.”
The FIR of the sexual assault was filed by the police on March 14, 2019, on the complaint of father of the girl.
The complainant had stated that he and other family members were present in their house when his daughter came from outside crying and said Qari Saeed called her to the mosque on the excuse of giving away an amulet but sexually assaulted her in a room there.
The convict didn’t accept the charge and claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case at the behest of the Ahmadi community as he was very vocal against it. However, he failed to verify that claim.
The defence counsel also insisted that the girl might have received injuries accidentally and that she was not subjected to a sexual assault.
The girl was also presented in the court as witness where she testified against the prayer leader.
She said that her father gave her Rs 10 to buy candies and when she was returning from the shop, the convict had asked her to accompany him to the nearby mosque so that he can give her an amulet (taweez). The girl said the convict took her to his room in the mosque and sexually assaulted her.
The court has also invoked a provision of the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010, prohibiting the publishing of any information regarding the girl’s identity, including picture, name, status, address or school.
