Alleged rape victim commits suicide in Muzaffargarh

Imran Gabol Published October 13, 2015

MUZAFFARGARH: An alleged rape victim committed suicide in front of a police station in Muzaffargarh district of Punjab early Tuesday morning.

The woman, who was severely injured in the self immolation attempt was taken to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Muzaffargarh and was later referred to the Multan Nishtar Hospital.

The woman doused her clothes with petrol and set herself on fire outside Muzaffargarh's City police station to protest against 'non-provision of justice in a rape case', doctors at the DHQ hospital said quoting the victim.

We could not save her life despite efforts, 80 percent of her body was burnt, sources in Nishtar Hospital told Dawn.

District Police Officer (DPO) Muzaffargarh Owais Ahmed told Dawn that the woman was a police informer and had helped CIA police apprehend a number of wanted criminals.

"In her statement to the doctor today she claimed that she was raped by Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Noor and a constable Adbul Qayyum but there is no First Information Report (FIR) registered in any police station of the district regarding the crime."

Earlier on Sunday, the woman had reached compromise with two police constables namely, Munna and Abdul Qayyum, in a robbery case. She had stated in an FIR that she was beaten and robbed of her valuables by the two constables but later reached a compromise and withdrew the case, said the DPO.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif had taken notice of the suicide attempt and had ordered the District Police Officer (DPO) to immediately submit a report over the incident.

Hospital representatives maintained that 80 per cent of her body was burnt in the self immolation attempt.

Earlier in March 2015, a rape victim in Muzaffargarh had died after she set herself ablaze to protest against a police report which helped her alleged rapist obtain bail.

Besides offering a job to the brother of the deceased girl, the CM had announced a compensation of Rs500,000 for the victim’s family.

Also Read: Panchayat returns, orders ‘gang-rape’

Pakistan

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

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Rao

Oct 13, 2015 01:29pm

Unfortunately the total failure of CM Shahbaz is evident when it comes to Police reforms in Punjab. People are afraid to visit the police station and bribery is rampant. Why no police reforms are taking place?. Where is the governance of PMLN?

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Sohail

Oct 13, 2015 01:52pm

What else you can do CM. Besides taking notices.The lives, properties and honor of people of Punjab is compromised long time back.

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on looker

Oct 13, 2015 02:10pm

What an epic example of poor governance in Punjab by a political party in power nearly a decade!

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imran

Oct 13, 2015 02:19pm

I am supporting PML(N) since 90s. I must say PML(N) has failed to reduce crime against womens and childrens. Shahbaz Sharif has done an excellent job in constructing roads and infrastructure in Lahore, my city, but crime against soft people of our society can't be handled with road-mind or with your kind visits. If situation goes like that, people like me, will definitely not join PTI but will leave their support to PML(N) and join the silent community who don't for anyone and prefers to be indifferent to country's issues.

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KeyPoints

Oct 13, 2015 02:26pm

Police department needs a major overhaul. All police personnel need additional training, that should include the point across that public, tax payers are paying their salary to serve and protect the general public. That police is not servants of influential land lords or politicians. Taking notice by CM or any other politician is not good enough, there should be an annoucement to reform the police department right away.

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Oct 13, 2015 03:01pm

Miserable but government is not doing enough. there is only one general solution to all this- education.

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Amir Khan

Oct 13, 2015 03:16pm

Nothing but the death penalty should be the punishment for such devils and that too in uniform. It is about time Pakistan started protecting and providing justice to its daughters and sisters. Utterly ashamed and disgusted by this act and that too from people supposed to protect and support us. Utter failure and breakdown of the law and order situation. The Army cannot be at all places and at all times. The police brutality and abuse has to be rooted out at all costs to safeguard the masses. Can somebody tame and rein in this rogue elements.

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AsR

Oct 13, 2015 03:21pm

I already took notice and now I also take notice of his notice.

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Imran

Oct 13, 2015 03:31pm

CM punjab good in taking notices only! shame

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buzdar

Oct 13, 2015 03:38pm

taken notice; that's all he does. as if all will get alright with that routine statement. another regular good governance news is the meeting of two brothers nawaz n shahbaz every sunday. after all, this government is a family enterprise. family flourishing; what else good governance can be ? #shame

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Asif

Oct 13, 2015 03:39pm

No law rule,no justice, perfect breeding ground for crooks to flourish.

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Dr .Javaid

Oct 13, 2015 03:39pm

Shame on Punjab goverment. Several cases of brutal acts committed by Punjab police have been reported in press and electronic media. Each time we hear the same news" CM ShahbazSharref has taken a notice of incident and asked for a report from IG. No serious attempt has been made to do reforms in police like the way KPK has done.

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M Jamal

Oct 13, 2015 03:48pm

If exemplary punishment are given to the criminals thru speedy courts and specially when policemen are involved than no one will dare to commit such heinous crimes.Police reform are must as proposed in 2002 by Mr Musharraf.

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zahid malik

Oct 13, 2015 04:23pm

Shame on this government

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Oct 13, 2015 04:31pm

This is panjab police for you. Shameless I must say

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AHA

Oct 13, 2015 04:38pm

Extremely sad. The weak have no rights in our land of the pure.

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Shakil Ahmed Khan

Oct 13, 2015 04:46pm

Why CM had to take "Notice" to do business as usual in remote part of the province? It points to failure of policing and governance! taking notice is not something to be proud of but its symptom of failure! How many notices he can take for all over Punjab a population of 120 millions? His job is not to interfere at Police Station level, delegate job to independant Police and seek answers and liability on chief of Police! But he likes to 2 penny fame on expense of people who dont get justice with his applied governance style is the Moghal King he wants the "raya" to come to his palace!

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ayub

Oct 13, 2015 05:00pm

The law students should be deputed for volunteer work in the police stations. The female law students can greatly help the women victims in pursuit of justice.

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Emad

Oct 13, 2015 05:07pm

This is what people of punjab will get when they vote for PMLN. Welldone CM and punjab police for being consistent

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Cyrus

Oct 13, 2015 05:18pm

The cops aren't going to inform on themselves. She took the right way out. What she was told by her family about Muslim protection of women wasn't true. With 40% second and third degree burns the victim has about a fifty-fifty chance of living.

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MJS

Oct 13, 2015 05:20pm

Pakistan is a Police state all the Police offers should be replaced and very well educated police officers / staff with clean background on merit should be hired from all over Pakistan at all positions.

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Syed Abbas

Oct 13, 2015 05:21pm

There should be an organisation or NGO who works not for women right but ONLY and Specifically for Women harassment.

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A. Ali

Oct 13, 2015 06:09pm

shameful and yet another daughter of Bibi Hawwa ( AS ) victim of politically strong hands of evils lurking around in society. under PMLN this case, as well, will never be resolved............... even resolved, whats the plight for deceased, the pain and agony she went through twice ?. a clear feudal lord mindset, had it not been for media's freedom, this may should not even be a news..... sad and sympathies for her near and dear ones whom she left in utter disarray and all sorts of eternal itch. who is responsible for this ?. those who raped her ? those who turned a deaf ear to her painful incidence or those who are hiding such evil acts ?.... WHO ?

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Noor99

Oct 13, 2015 06:09pm

Punjab police needs complete overhauling so that all the flaws accumulated over decades of Sharifs governance should be undone.

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Saad Saeed

Oct 13, 2015 06:13pm

These are the fruits of 8 year PML(N) rule in Punjab

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ali

Oct 13, 2015 06:34pm

Someday one of your family member will be the victim of these horrendous crime. that day whole nation will take notice and will compensate you same. Shame on you

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IBN E ASHFAQUE

Oct 13, 2015 06:42pm

@ayub Do you think female law students will be safe near police stations.......

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khanm

Oct 13, 2015 06:55pm

I may sound very controversial but i don't care... This woman in my eyes is a MARTYR... who set herself on fire in order prove a point against injustice... If this does not open the eyes... wonder what will. My prayers for her for offering the biggest sacrifice in the name unjust system. Unfortunately in Pakistan rape is the only crime in which the victim becomes the accused.There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made about the injustice that prevails in Pakistan.

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Warraich

Oct 13, 2015 07:03pm

CM took notice but it'll not solve it in "100 days" like any bridge in Lahore. As it is not a part of good governance! He should be mature enough to acknowledge that human life is PRICELESS!

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Hassan

Oct 13, 2015 07:11pm

Maybe if we built a metro station at every police station, it would solve the problem.

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Irshad Khan (CAN)

Oct 13, 2015 07:33pm

It appears that there will be an action (FIR) only when victim kills herself and C/M Shahbaz Sharif takes notice. I wonder if we have any fear of God, any humanity or Justice left in Pakistan. I am sure the whole incident will be covered up and people will forget about it in two weeks.

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Mulazim hussain

Oct 13, 2015 07:48pm

Irresponsible attitude of CM Shbaz Sharif for not punishing the Police officers who do not even register FIR of henious crime of rape.Shameless negligence indeed!

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mba

Oct 13, 2015 07:52pm

I hope someone would take some steps in the right direction now. She has accused two persons before her death. I hope someone would move to investigate this allegations. In my opinion, the whole staff of the Muzaffargarh's City police station should be suspended, the two accused should be taken into custody and the investigation should be done by a team from outside (not from Muzaffargarh).

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citizen

Oct 13, 2015 07:57pm

It is not only Punjab police..the same situation prevails throughout the country, in all states..Police lost the respect of society long back...

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Muhammed Ali

Oct 13, 2015 08:06pm

Greed in Asia has made our once poor but honest people try and run after the dream, its all become me me me now....why should the guardians of the law be left behind? Poor people dare not go to the police station, it would backfire, so this is just one of the steps that this young lady has taken to get her case in the publics notice, ask any molvi and they will say she has gone to hell because of her suicide.....but what other option did she have? Shame on our leaders who cannot provide basic security to the public, they will be answerable but seems they dont care....sad

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Shahid Khan

Oct 13, 2015 08:28pm

Pathetic affairs of punjab under shahbaz sharif, i cant figure out despite zero performace, people still vote for pml-n ??

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Truth

Oct 13, 2015 08:53pm

It confirms total failure of CM Shahbaz, who has ruled Punjab for almost 30 years. What has he done regarding Police reforms in Punjab. People in Punjab are afraid to visit the police station and bribery is rampant. Where is so called good governance of PMLN?

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Truth

Oct 13, 2015 08:56pm

Shahbaz Sharif is CM for taking notices and making committees. Can anyone keep count of notices and committees and inform the nation?

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Shame

Oct 13, 2015 09:01pm

I don't know how CM is shamefully sitting on CM's chair while women are brutally raped by police throughout Punjab.

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shakil

Oct 13, 2015 09:58pm

The police gang-raping the helpless victim, and their colleagues not admitting an FIR, only proves that the law of jungle prevails in the backward districts of Punjab. The DPO of Muzaffargarh should know the wolves in his police force and should have weeded them out long ago, which shows extreme inefficiency and incompetence on his part. The woman had to set herself on fire to draw the authorities' notice to the cruelty committed upon her. This is indeed a case of murder and the ASI and the other policeman should hang for it, and the DPO be dismissed. This is the least that the CM Punjab should ensure while also taking immediate steps to cleanse the police force of its black sheep.

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Oct 13, 2015 10:40pm

@ayub ".....deputed for volunteer work ...." volunteer work is not deputed. It comes from inside. as a nation we have no interest for volunteer work, I mean so few. Unfortunately. And majority of our so called lawyers are 'lairs' what do you expect from them?

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Oct 13, 2015 10:42pm

@citizen No, Khyber is better.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 13, 2015 10:50pm

What a great tragedy?

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