ISLAMABAD, June 12: The representatives of various civil society organizations (CSOs) on Saturday expressed their “extreme outrage and disgust” over the treatment of a gangrape victim, Mukhtaran Mai, by the state institutions.

In a joint press statement on Saturday, representatives of Pattan Development Organization, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Sungi Development Foundation, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute and Sachet, said while the court order to release the accused in the case was “shocking”, equally alarming were reports that the government had put the victim’s name on the exit control list.

They said the handling of the case spoke volumes for the sorry state of administrative, judicial and the criminal justice system. “This situation calls for an immediate revamping of our criminal justice system in order to provide protection to the victims of violence,” they suggested.

It is disappointing that despite a suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court after the verdict of the Lahore High Court in the Mukhtaran Mai case and the repeated requests submitted by her lawyer Aitezaz Ahsan, who had filed her appeal in the Supreme Court for early hearing of her case, she is still awaiting justice.

“How many times we have to remind our rulers that justice delayed is justice denied,” they said, adding that “if our higher judiciary cannot speed up the dispensation of justice even in such cases on which national as well as international quarters have expressed their concerns, then what is the hope for those victims of violence who are fighting alone their battles for justice”.

The CSOs’ representatives said: “Mukhtaran Mai is not allowed to leave her home in the name of security. She has been virtually put under house arrest and is being treated like a criminal.”

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.