KARACHI, Oct 9: Two NGOs working for human rights have demanded that all those involved in the gang-rape of a housewife, ‘Ms S’, be arrested and awarded exemplary punishment.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and War Against Rape (WAR) maintained that the victim was forced into prostitution by her husband Niaz Mohammad. “The involvement of certain press photographers is unprecedented and needs to be addressed immediately,” it added and called for protection to the victim.

They said that Niaz Mohammad, 40, was father of six children when he paid Rs16,000 to Ms S, also a married woman, to seek divorce from her husband living in Shaikhupura. Later, Niaz brought her to Karachi. They got married and got a residence in Orangi.

The NGOs said that Ms S and another woman, who had been staying with her at the former’s Orangi residence, were subjected to gang-rape by six people who had visited them on Sept 2. The statement further said that while an FIR had been lodged against the rapists, only three of them were arrested while the rest remained at large till date. As the couple moved to another residence, at Teen Hatti, the absconding accused on Oct 6 sent a group of men to their house who started blackmailing the couple and demanded Rs50,000 to keep Niaz’s ‘prostitution business’ secret. At the same time, the statement added, the blackmailers tried to force the couple to drop the FIR lodged by them earlier. The blackmailers also threatened the couple with dire consequences if they did not oblige them.

Niaz Mohammad slipped out of the house leaving his wife at the mercy of the blackmailers who, the statement said, subjected Ms S to gangrape and torture the whole night. One of the rapists also took the woman’s obscene snaps and took her to the Super Market police station to get an FIR against her husband lodged.

While the SHO did not register the FIR of the first gangrape, the victim also could not lodge complaint about the second gangrape with her as the culprits were accompanying her at that time, the NGOs claimed.

Finally, Niaz Mohammad and Ms S approached the HRCP on Oct 8 and sought help and protection. The woman has been provided protected shelter to enable her reveal her ordeal without any fear.