Rights Watch | 4th June 2020

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Rights Watch

2 Boys Sexually Assaulted

Sera-e-Saleh police are on the hunt for an accused sex offender who assaulted two boys, aged 13 and 12, in Gheba village in Haripur (district Hazara), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the boys’ father, who also registered the complained, Hussain Shah lured his sons who were out in the street playing into his home where he proceeded to rape them. The accused threatened the boys to keep mum about the assault before releasing them, however, the victims immediately informed their parents upon reaching home. An initial report confirmed sexual assault; a case against the absconded suspect has been registered under PPC section 377.

“Child predator” Imam Disappears

A Kasur imam who was thrashed by Garaywala villagers a few days prior to attempting to rape a 10-year-old boy in his mosque vanished under mysterious circumstances. Mandi Usmanwala police arrested the victim’s father under suspicion but were released after a mob gathered outside the police station. The villagers promised the suspect would be presented for questioning.

An FIR was lodged against the missing imam under PPC sections 377 (unnatural offense) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offenses that carry a life sentence). It later emerged that the imam had victimized 3 others, but no complaint was filed by the parents due to shame.

According to the complained lodged by the victim’s father, the missing suspect had attempted to rape his son on May 31 when another boy alerted the villagers who apprehended the imam and subjected him to torture, inflicting wounds to his genitals. The victim’s father did not register a case immediately after the incident due to the imam’s position as a seminary teacher.

Police state that the suspect’s mobile phone is switched off, and suspect he may have succumbed to his injuries. The investigation is still underway.

Justice Demanded For Extrajudicial Murders

Civil society activists in Mirpur Khas, Sindh called on officials to launch a judicial inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial murder of Ali Haider Ronjho and Soomar Maher while in the custody of Sanghar police. According to the protesters, Soomar was picked up by police from Umerkot while Ali was arrested in Khipro, and remanded to Sanghar police who tortured them to death on May 20. Activists claimed the bodies bore bruises and burn marks, and that fake medical certificates were issued after the Soomar and Ali’s demise. They stated that fake police encounter cases were lodged against the deceased.