Rape victim says she has been forced to leave home

Local police demanded more money from the woman to get the alleged rapist arrested. 

He was later released soon illegally. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: About 50 rights activists protested on Sunday in front of the Lahore Press Club against Pak Pattan police’s for not arresting a man accused of being involved in the rape of a Christian girl.

The protesters also demanded action against the police officials responsible. The victim, who was present at the protest, said Zahid Ahmed* and his accomplices had raped her at gun point.

The girl said that after escaping from the men, she had gone with her uncle to the police. She the officials at the Chak Baidi police station had demanded Rs5,000 for registering an FIR. She said after the FIR was registered, SHO Afzal Dogar and investigation officer ASI Muhammad Akram demanded more money to conduct raids to arrest the suspects. She said she borrowed the money from some relatives to pay the police and got the accused arrested.

However, she alleged Ahmed was released the same day illegally. She said he got interim bail but it was cancelled on April 4. The police, she said, was not arresting the accused as he was an influential man in the area. She said she had also given an application to the Pakpatan DPO but no action had been taken.

She said Ahmed was threatening her and her family and had demanded that she withdraw the FIR. She said she had left her home because of the pressure of her family and her biradari on her to take back her FIR. She appealed to the inspector general of Punjab Police and the chief minister to ensure justice for her.

*The name of the alleged perpetrator has been changed to protect his identity

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2012.