Rights Watch | September 15th 2020

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Govt apology for motorway incident

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mohammad Qasim Khan remarked that the government must issue an apology for the lapse in security that and compensate the victim’s family during a hearing on a petition to form a commission to inquire into the incident on Monday, September 14.

The Justice lambasted the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Umer Sheikh, for his careless remarks that held the victim responsible for what had happened to her, and questioned whether this mindset had already compromised the investigations.

Sheikh registered an apology for his statements and stated that although his jurisdiction extends only to Ring Road, he admits that security arrangements at the recently inaugurated M-11, where the incident had occurred, were lacking. Furthermore, he accepted that there was a severe lack of coordination between the Motorway Police and the FWO.

The Justice adjourned the hearing till September 16 with a warning to the CCPO against any extrajudicial killing of any suspect in the case.

Another detained in Marwah case

On Monday, September 14, police detained another suspect from the same locality where the torched body of five-year-old Marwah was discovered in Essa Nagri, Karachi on September 4. The arrest was made based on tangible and circumstantial evidence, however police state the yet-identified suspect may be released if his DNA does not match that which was recovered from the scene of the crime.

Girls raped by fathers in separate incidents

Chak Badiyain police are on the lookout for a 50-year-old resident of Sikandar Chowk in district Pakpattan, for repeatedly raping his 15-year-old daughter for the past several months. According to reports, the girl was recovered by locals who surrendered her over to her older sister and brother-in-law. The girl’s mother had died some four years ago, and her older brother worked in another city. She was the eldest among her siblings still living with her father. An initial medical report has confirmed sexual assault and a case has been registered against the absconded suspect.

Meanwhile, Gujranwala police managed to nab a Rajkot man for sexually assaulting his 16-year-old step-daughter multiple times. A case has been registered.

Man throws acid on separated wife

One Abdul Rafi, hailing from district Nankana Sahib in Punjab, threw acid on his estranged wife, Ayesha Tariq, for refusing to return home with him. The victim had been living with her parents in Faisalabad for the past seven months after being kicked out of her marital home by her abusive husband of four years.

On the day of the incident, Rafi barged into his wife’s home with two unknown accomplices – the suspect carried a gun as well as a white container full of corrosive acid, and threatened to kill Ayesha if she did not return with him. Upon her refusal, he threw the acid on her which melted her face and shoulders, and blinded her, before fleeing.

Police are on the hunt for the accused, and a case has been registered under section 336 of the Pakistan Penal Code (hurt caused by corrosive substance). Meanwhile the victim has been shifted to Civil Hospital for treatment.