KARACHI: A jirga of notables in Ghulam Nabi Shah area of Umerkot district allegedly settled a gang rape case for a compensation of 30 maunds of wheat, the victim’s father claimed.
A case was registered with the local police a few days ago on complaint of the 14-year-old victim's brother, Sajan Shaikh.
The victim’s father said following the registration of the case and the subsequent arrest of the main suspect, he was forced to settle the dispute through the jirga and was promised a compensation of 30 maunds of wheat.
The jirga was held under the supervision of a local influential landlord Mohammad Hassan Mangrio, he added.
The victim’s father deplored that after he refused to accept the compensation he was forced to leave the area with his family.
He alleged that since local media highlighted the issue, local elites have been threatening him to keep mum and withdraw the case.
DIG Mirpurkhas division Javed Alam Odho took notice of the incident and directed SSP Umerkot to investigate the case and provide protection to the victim’s family.
The SHO of Ghulam Nabi Shah, Arif Bhatti, said local police had registered the case on March 21 under Sections 376 (2) and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and has already arrested the prime suspect.
The official, however, said he was not aware of any jirga being held in the jurisdiction of his police station.
Hassan Mangrio — who had allegedly forced the victim’s parents to settle the issue — also denied of holding any such jirga, and said “the rape matter might have been settled between the accused and victim’s family”.
Zahida Detho, the chief of Sindh Rural Partner Organisation (SRPO), termed the incident "the worst in the area."
She demanded the Sindh government to form a judicial commission to probe the incident.
Detho said her organisation was collecting details of the incident to help the family.
“In many such instances in the past, the parents were forced to withdraw the cases due to political pressure,” she observed.
Comments (77) Closed
wats happening in pakistan???
@raj this is common all over rural India also,
Jirga system is based on injustice. We have judicial system please arrest such persons as soon as possible!
This needs to be further investigated and if true then the jirga people need to be severely punished.
There can be no settling of a rape allegation??? It is a crime and the ones responsile must be punished!
@ahsan Who cares what happens in India or any where else....I care about my own counrty and these incidents should not happen in Pakistan.
Disgusting wake up Muslim this is happening in Pakistan our leaders are sleeping, Pakistan is one of the best Muslim country we need to make it stay that way and stop this evil things disgrace in our Islam,,so sorry for family this things happen to
is that justice
unique justice...30 maunds of wheat..should be recorded in Guinness World Records
These jirgas must be abolished.
this is ridiculous......
Pakistani people still you say that India is not safe for girl
I am surprised this Jirga system is still working. Government should probe into this incident and punish to the maximum extent of these participants of the Jirga and set an example that in future no body would even think about participating in Jirga. Zahida Detho, the chief of Sindh Rural Partner Organisation (SRPO) please do not let these Jirga people go unpunished.
These jirga people are disgrace to humanity. As long as there are mullahs, these ppl are there.
I cannot understand the legality of jirga in this modern age... even in pre Islamic erra there was no such such tradition...indeed we are going backward. ..failed to comprehand why the police was not called n no cade was registered...
Where is the state?. State should be a prosecutor in crimes like murder and rape .
Where are Authorities???
Interior Sindh in worse shape than it was in 1947, but Zinda hai Bhutto (no matter if common people are worse than dead)!!!!
What is jirga?? A club of illiterate influential land owners in a village.
First of all, this case should be registered under the existing law of the country and some officer out of the influence of local Jirga/big-wigs, must be assigned to investigate and submit report to the IG police Sindh, for further action under the law. Secondly, all Jirgas should be completely disbanded and banned from interfering in such matters. In case they insist to come in, they must be booked as accessories to the criminals.
@Naeem so according to you it is justified if this kind of crime happen in any other country
Regrettable and condemnable act and accused may be brought for justice
Dear Police,
I am sure the father of the victim can help you very easily to find out, when and where did the Jirga take place.
Pakistan and her media, from now on, will be following this case very closely.
Your performance is now in the spotlight.
A 'Cover Up' simply not the option.
@Naeem Very well said
@ahsan Even if that's the case, why should it be happening in Pakistan. Noone, including Indians, can malign the reputation of Pakistan, its such cases that need to cease occurring on such regular basis. There are lots of good & bad things around the world. Lets compare ourselves to the better halves.
Rape is not only one country problem ..... its a problem of whole world .....no one can say that rape donot happen in my country or in my city ....
Same story with the same old result. Rich & Powerful Kills & Rapes the weak in our country and walk free in the end. Tell me just one example when these accused went to jail. Pathetic !
Cause(poverty) and Effect(injustice).
@Priya Does incidents like this does not happen in india or will never happen in india in future?
Jirga system is a real curse in our society. Illiterate plus Illiterate equals Illiterate this is the story of jirga system be it in Pakistan or India where it is known as panchayat. I don't understand why government doesn't abolish Jirga or Panchayat system. A rapist deserves severe punishment whereas these illiterate peoples settles the crime with some qty of wheat, what a shameful & disgraceful act.
We need justice! I hope this news get an attention of some good people in power, and the rapist should be prosecuted quickly. Also, government needs to provide protection to the victim and her family.
To make this country a better place to live in, it is imperative that such news make headlines every time.
Arrest all these Jirga guys and put them behind bars. Where is the law and order?
Pakistani Government must Ban the Jirga system immediately because Jirga system as a whole is the worst human rights violation.
Put the lot in jail to rot. No place in new Pakistan for old caste based systems anymore.
Sick beyond comprehension -
Hell with the jirga. This is a capital crime and should be handled accordingly. Is the victim pakistani citizen, then government should handle it.
Simply poverty,waderashahi and corrupt government.
when bad things happen pakistanis say it is happening in india also/no excuse----we know in india/pakistan poor have no rights police is corrupt in pakistan landlords rule
criminality against females , thanks Hanif for reporting this extremist patriarchal crime against an innocent girl. Criminals must get punishment
this man destroyed a young girl's life yet there's people in the community taking law in their own hands to settle issues ...they forget the status of women is higher than men but having grown up in an environment of women bashing has made them to behave so low...!
Amazing level of backwardness in Pakistan.
Thanks dawn for raising the issue. Hope that press keeps up pressure and the responsible people are brought to justice.
What a shame. A life just beginning has to go through this horrible period.
Let's wake up.. stop blaming the west.. or India.. problem lies in our own backyard..
The jirga and their supporters need to be arrested and put behind bars.
@raj it has been happening for a long time. Wake up buddy
@Law of Cause and Effect love it.
Extremely backward and ignorant kind of such jirga.
These so called Jirgas be banned and court should punish the culprit The influential go scot free to recommit such offences.
Where are the mullas and their spokesmen. Adultery & or rape is a serous issues in Islam and should dealt properly..
Where is PPP government?
Such incidents wide spread happens in northern parts of rural India,Very very rarely you can hear such incidents in south India where there is high literacy rate.
Get the jagirdar if he had put pressure on aggrevie party to accept jirgas decision and put him behind bar. All jirgas must be banned those participating in jirga should be dealt according to the law. If there isnt a law dealing with jirgas, one should be made. Most importantly justice should be delivered speedily and at the door step of the aggreived. The jirgas participants are mostly illiterate and are influenced by zamindar and jagirdar and anti poor.
The man who headed the jirga and gave the decision must be arrested and tried as co accused as a conspirator.
@Ali jee The people themselves are in deeper sleep, we are our own worst enemy.
@PRIYA Whether it is a Panchayat in India or a Jirga in Pakistan both are extra judicial, illegal and loaded against a rape victim. Both are detestable. A wrong is a wrong irrespective of caste, creed, race or borders.
@Naeem totally agreed
No words to describe this gross injustice to this innocent girl,who could be anybody's daughter.
It means that any one who has got 30 maunds of wheat for settlement of rape case is free to commit such heinous crime in Mirpurkhas??
BHUTTO is alive. ppp s 30 years rule has taken sindh 2000 years back .
GOD bless
Price of dignity of a lady in Pakistan is wheat??? Unbelievable
Sad state of affairs
Bilawal Bhutto are you there? It is your stronghold. Make sure justice is served. This is height of discrimination. Poor girl is raped and given wheat as compensation. I wonder if this is the new trend or an old trend of Sindhi landlords.
My Indain Friends dnt blame Pakistan for this we have our own panchayaths which settle these type of cases with monetary compensation . We are also screwed up just like them .Lets face realities of both countries , lets face bitter truth .
How sick can people get?
Jirga member should be arrested and tried for aiding and abetting rape
This should be a criminal matter prosecuted by police, not open to "settlement".
Nauseating. Despicable.
Sindhi's wadarshahi is a monopolized culture in the sindh,
Leaders and participants in these jirgas/ khap /panchayat be also tried for abatement of rape and attempt to destroy evidence.
Now police is taking charge lets see what happen... i don't think so that they will get rid from it ..... jurga system should be end ,this is modern world.. huge request is that please come forword and arrest such person ,which are playing with innocents...
Well the Sindh government must be removed.
Jirgha and punchiat are parallel systems to the constitution. They go against the constitution very frequently and with ease. Why we then cant declare such practices as equal to treason Pakistani constitution.
Bilawal should meet the aggrieved family and give them justice i.e put all the culprits behind the bar including the influence people of the area involved in trying to cover the culprits. But this will never happen as PPP is a party of Feudals and they will protect them suppressing the poor and weak. They only have slogans for the poor and week of this country
Jirga....! This matter should be treated by the law of Pakistan.
It's heartening to see some good people out there doing their best to help this family.
@Naeem Very Well said Naeem!