Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the rape of an 18-year-old girl in the captivity of her stepfather, a police tout, for more than five years. Her mother has also been kidnapped by the perpetrator and her whereabouts remain unknown. A case was filed after agitation from local communities but the area Police Station is pressurizing the girl not to pursue the case intimating that she would face dire consequences. The area police have taken the perpetrator into custody but have not yet arrested him. Instead, police officials are trying to force a settlement between the victim and the perpetrator rather than filing a case against him.
The Police Investigation officer asked the AHRC not to interfere in the case as it will hamper the settlement between the rapist and the victim.
CASE NARRATIVE: (Information received from the Star Welfare Organization)
Ms. Sonia Rani (18), daughter of late Mr. Mohammad Sadiq, a resident of Miandadkot, Hafizabad, Punjab Province was continuously raped for five years in the captivity of her stepfather, Mohammad Ramzan, a well known police tout of the area. Her mother Naseem Bibi was married to the perpetrator Ramzan after the death of Sonia’s father. A report was made at the city police station of Hafizabad concerning the rape. Sonia has stated that she was forced to have three abortions which were carried out by different midwives. She was threatened by the perpetrator not to talk about the matter with anyone otherwise she would face dire consequences. When Sonia’s mother came to know that her daughter has been raped by her stepfather she arranged her marriage to a boy when Sonia was 3 months pregnant.
On 1 April 2012 when she reported to the City police station, the Station Head Officer (SHO) and other police officials warned her not to file the case against their tout but told her that if she had the same relationship with them then her case would be filed. After agitation from the local people the police was compelled to file a First Information Report (FIR) on 6 April, however the police are reluctant to take action against the perpetrator. He has been taken into custody and is enjoying the facilities of the police in the lock up but has not yet been formerly arrested. Instead, police are forcing the victim and her in-laws to reach a settlement with the rapist and withdraw the complaint against him.
Sonia alleged in her police report that her stepfather has kidnapped her mother when she came to know that her daughter had been raped by her second husband.
The victim told the police that her mother has been disappeared for the last 10 months and her whereabouts remain unknown. She further stated that several times she tried to prevent her stepfather from raping her but he always threatened her that he will kill her and her mother also.
When she tried to report the crime Sonia was sexually harassed and abused by the police who used filthy language. The police are insisting that she withdraw her case and not file an FIR against Mohammad Ramzan.
When the Asian Human Rights Commission tried to contact the victim to get the further details of the case at first she attended the telephone call but suddenly the call was taken over by one of the investigation officers, Asghar Zaman of the City Police Station, Hafizabad who asked the AHRC not to interfere into the case as the police is trying to make a settlement between the rapist and the victim. The police officer then disconnected the telephone line.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities mentioned below calling for prompt action in the rape and abduction case by a police tout. Please urge them to arrest the perpetrators and prosecute the Station House Officer (SHO) and Investigation Officer of the city police station of Hafizabad for their negligence in filing case against the perpetrator taking. Please also urge prompt intervention in this case so that the authorities can take up this case and prosecute the police for its negligence and alleged involvement in the prevailing case. The concerned authorities should conduct an urgent inquiry into the matter of the abduction of the other women as notified by the complainant.
Please note that the Asian Human Rights Commission has written a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women calling for her intervention into this case.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: Police insist an 18-year-old girl to settle a case of raping for five years with the rapist cum stepfather
Name of victims:
1. Ms. Sonia Rani, aged 18, daughter of late Mr. Mohammad Sadiq
2. Ms. Naseem Bibi mother of Sonia Rani
Both are residents of Miandakot, Hafizabad, Punjab Province
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Muhammad Ramzan , Resident of Miandakot, Hafizabad, Punjab Province
2. Mr. Ijaz Ahmed, Station House Officer (SHO), of City Police Station, Hafizabad, Punjab province.
3. Mr. Asghar Zaman, Sub inspector cum Investigation Officer City Police Station Hafizabad, Punjab province.
Date of incident: 1 April 2012
Place of incident: Miandadkot, Hafizabad, Punjab province.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the rape of an 18-year- old woman who was abducted and assaulted by the perpetrator
I have learned that Sonia Rani (18) the daughter of Mohammad Sadiq (deceased), a resident of Miandadkot, Hafizabad, Punjab Province was continuously raped for five years in the captivity of her stepfather, Mohammad Ramzan, a well known police tout of the area. Her mother Naseem Bibi was married to the perpetrator Ramzan after the death of Sonia’s father. A report was made at the city police station of Hafizabad concerning the rape. Sonia has stated that she was forced to have three abortions which were carried out by different midwives. She was threatened by the perpetrator not to talk about the matter with anyone otherwise she would face dire consequences. When Sonia’s mother, Naseem Bibi, came to know that her daughter has been raped by her stepfather she mother arranged her marriage to a boy when Sonia was 3 months pregnant.
On 1 April 2012 when she reported to the City police station, the Station Head Officer (SHO) and other police officials warned her not to file the case against their tout but told her that if she had the same relationship with them then her case would be filed. After agitation from the local people the police was compelled to file First Information Report (FIR) on 6 April, however the police was reluctant to take action against the perpetrator. He has been taken into custody and is enjoying the facilities of Police officer in the lock up but has not yet been formerly arrested. Instead, police are forcing the victim and her in-laws to reach a settlement with the rapist and withdraw the complaint against him.
I have also learned that Sonia alleged in her police report that her stepfather has kidnapped her mother Naseem Bibi when she came to know that her daughter had been raped by her second husband.
The victim told the police that her mother has been disappeared for the last 10 months and her whereabouts are still unknown. She further stated that several times she tried to prevent her stepfather from raping her but he always threatened her that he will kill her and her mother also.
I am appalled to learn that when she tried to report the crime Sonia was sexually harassed and abused by the police who used filthy language. The police are insisting that she withdraw her case and not file an FIR against Mohammad Ramzan.
I find it totally unacceptable that when the Asian Human Rights Commission tried to contact the rape victim Ms. Sonia Rani to get further details of the case at first she attended the telephone call but suddenly the call was taken over by one of the investigation officers, Asghar Zaman of the City Police Station of Hafizabad who asked the AHRC not to interfere into the case as the police is trying to make a settlement between the rapist and the victim. The police officer then disconnected the telephone line.
Please ensure that an immediate investigation is made into this matter. The rapist, Mohammad Ramzan, who is already in custody, must be formerly charged and the SHO and other officers who are protecting him dismissed from their posts. This is particularly important in that they have asked the victim for sexual services in order to assist her case.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
2. Mr. Lateef Khosa
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
3. Mr. Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed
Chief Justice of Punjab Province
Lahore High Court
Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 42 99212951-66
Fax: +92 42 99212279
Email: webmasterlhc@lhc.gov.pk
4. Mr. Shahbaz Shareef
Chief Minister
Government of Punjab
Province
Chief Minister
Secretariat
5-Club Road
GOR-I, Lahore, Punnjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk
5. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
