Rights Watch | 16th April 2020

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Rights Watch

Acid Attack

Rani Begum Vistro of Dadu, Sindh, received burns to 30% of her face after six miscreants threw acid on her. The victim gave her statement to the police while receiving treatment for her burns at the civil hospital in Dadu.

Vistro alleged five men and a woman arrived at her doorstep and demanded she marries off her daughter to one of the accused, Ayaz Bandh. Upon her refusal, the accused threw acid on her and threatened to murder her daughter if she did not comply with their demands before fleeing.

All six accused, including Ayaz Bandh, have been taken into police custody. An FIR has been lodged.

Action against Anti-Judiciary Elements

In a letter issued to the Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a probe into anti-judiciary elements circulating online, including campaigns and malicious speech.

Some PTI supporters have taken to social media to target the judiciary, especially the Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, after the Supreme Court of Pakistan reprimanded Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza regarding the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. A team will also be constituted to determine what action needs to take against such anti-judiciary elements.

Donations Dry Up at Shrines

Underprivileged persons who received charity from worshippers and were served meals from shrines are suffering from lockdown as donations dry up and shrine goers dwindle in number. Most persons relying on shrine donations do not have any identification, and cannot enroll for the government’s cash relief programs.

Meanwhile, the transgender community also claims to be bereft of livelihood during the prevailing lockdown. Due to the prohibition on gatherings, celebratory events such as weddings and ceremonies are no longer being held. The transgender community mainly relies on begging, and receiving cash during celebrations.

The community claims that they are not receiving any ration, and urge the government as well as the privileged classes to donate to the trans persons.