July 28, 2008	Monday	Rajab 24, 1429

MULTAN, July 27: Over 100 per cent increase was recorded in rape cases in Multan district in the first six months of year as compared to last year.

Multan police lodged 22 rape cases last year from Jan 1 to June 30 while the number of rape cases this year was 48.

About 71 people were nominated in 48 cases, and police could arrest only 41. Only 25 cases were sent to courts, 10 were under investigation while 13 were cancelled by the police.

City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz said people were facing difficulties in getting their first information report registered (FIRs) and after taking charge as the CPO he had directed all station house officers to lodge the FIR without any delay.

He said that it was also a fact that a large number of false rape cases were lodged because the people used the case to settle some old scores with their opponents.

Task Force Human Rights South Punjab Chairman

Rashid Rehman said the actual numbers of rape cases were much more than the registered ones and many people were reluctant to approach police due to social taboos and slow, lengthy and expensive litigation.

He said police avoided to lodge FIRs to show off their “better” performance.

He said that getting a medico-legal report was a major problem for the rape victim.

Psychologist Prof Irfan Husain Ahmed said that cases of sexual abuse should be reported – if one doesn’t report it, the rapists will never be caught.

He said the media unnecessarily flashed such reports which seduced youngsters to take on such “adventures” knowing that the accused remained safe even after committing such offense.