HYDERABAD:
Six policemen of the Jacobabad district police have been arrested and charged with gang-rape of a minor girl who is in custody as the victim’s family, community and civil society complain of sparing some other suspects, including the SHO, from the case. District SSP Muhammad Kaleem Malik confirmed on Monday that his own investigation revealed that the allegations made by 17-year-old A* Khoso, daughter of Khuda Bux Khoso, and her family were true.
“The women were detained as suspects in a murder case. One night [Saturday night] The SHO went on leave and that night the in-charge took keys to that room and six officers raped her,” Malik told the media. But the victim’s family, Khoso community elders and civil society representatives led by lawyer Zubeda Jakhrani have rejected the FIR and blame the SSP for trying to protect the RD-5 SHO police girl who was the police station.
The FIR was filed on the complaint of Noor Khatoon Khoso, grandmother, under Sections 375 A, 334, 506/2, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Assistant Sub-Inspector Mehrab Khan Sundrani, Head Constable Abdul Nabi Abro and Constables Barkat Ali Jkhrani, Khadim Ali Jakhrani, Ghulam Yaseen Jakhrani and Mir Hassan Abro have been nominated in the case.
The victim and her 15-year-old sister Farzana, along with their grandmother, were detained on January 7 at around 4:00 p.m. They were reportedly held in a private location with male officers. The alleged rape took place on the night of January 12 and the following day they were released.
The complainant alleged that they were held hostage by the police to put pressure on some men from her family who were accused in a murder FIR. The family also complained of being harassed by the police to prevent them from seeking justice.
Lawyer Zubeda Jakhrani claimed that during the police raid on their house, the police also looted the dowry of the rape victim, whose wedding is scheduled for next month, and the goats. “Thanks to robberies, thefts, killings and kidnappings, the police have already lost their trust and such incidents are now creating hatred among the people.”
The lawyer who helped the family in the registration of the FIR, the victim’s medical check-up and in the campaign for justice questioned why the women prisoners were not kept with the women police. “Where are women’s protective cells?”
