WASHINGTON, June 30: The US State Department said on Thursday that it had no reason to doubt the government of Pakistan’s claim about the return of Mukhtaran Mai’s passport, especially after she had confirmed the same.

In a written response to a question raised earlier at the daily press briefing, the State Department recalled that on June 27 Mukhtaran Mai told journalists that the government of Pakistan had returned her passport to her.

“We have no reason to doubt her statement. Pakistani authorities have assured us that she is free to travel whenever she wants. The Pakistani foreign minister assured Secretary (of State Condoleezza) Rice of this as well,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, during the regular briefing the State Department’s spokesman Sean McCormack said that the perpetrators of the gang-rape must be brought to justice.

“The use of rape or sexual intimidation as a means of punishment or retribution, whether by individuals or by groups, is unacceptable in our view,” Mr McCormack said.