Man Arrested for Raping Daughter
A young woman hailing from Gulabiwala village in Multan accused her father of raping her at gunpoint while their family was away. The victim claims that her cries for help alerted her family and community members who rescued her. Though the suspect initially escaped, the Basti Malook police say that he is now in custody and has been booked.
Couple Force Daughter Into Prostitution
Police managed to rescue a girl from a prostitution den in the city of Renala Khurd, Okara. The victim accused her parents of repeatedly forcing her into prostitution before selling her to the brothel-keepers from whose establishment she was rescued from. She alleges that her stepfather took her to Karachi for to prostitute her, but she managed to escape to Renala Khurd tehsil, where police found her in the aforementioned prostitution den.
The victim has also accused her stepfather of repeated instances of sexual assault. Local police have launched an investigation and have registered a case against several alleged perpetrators, including the victim’s mother and stepfather.
Matiari Woman Shot Dead
Nirma Kalhoro of Matiari, Sindh was shot dead on Saturday, July 11, in what appears to be an incident of domestic violence. The deceased’s family has accused her father-in-law and brother-in-law of her murder; her father, Khalid Kalhoro, alleged his daughter often complained of abuse in her marital home. Khaibrani SHO Bahadur Jamali confirmed that suspects Ishaq and Hakim Kalhoro have been detained for interrogation, however, the investigation is still ongoing. As figures show, this case is only one of many instances of violence faced by women in Pakistan.
Khawaja Asif Accused of Blasphemy
PTI leader Qamar Riaz Sulehri has lodged a blasphemy complaint against Asif under Sections 295-A and 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, accusing senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif of offending Muslims by equating them with non-Muslims during his National Assembly speech on Thursday, July 9.
Khawaja Asif had criticized those lawmakers opposed to the construction of a much-disputed Hindu temple in Islamabad in his speech to the National Assembly on Thursday, July 9. He further highlighted that all religions are recognized as equal under the Constitution of Pakistan, and called upon all lawmakers to promote harmony and tolerance in society.
Drawing the ire of the religious right in Parliament, PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif stated that Khawaja Asif’s remarks were in line with both Islam and the Constitution of Pakistan in response to allegations of blasphemy.
Qamar Riaz Sulehri’s move has provoked its own criticism online, with some expressing worry over the increasing numbers of mainstream politicians expressing arguably extremist views on subjects like religion.
