ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock and grief over the plight of Sonia Naz of Faisalabad who was allegedly raped and tortured by police officials as she mounted search for her husband missing for the past several months.

Sonia Naz, 23, and a mother of two kids, was arrested from the National Assembly in April this year for entering the house without permission to seek help of the prime minister in locating her missing husband. She was sent to jail by the speaker for breach of security and privilege of the house. Her travails began after she was sent to jail. She has accused senior police officers of raping her and at the same time threatening her with more humiliation if she opened her mouth.

In a statement on Thursday, Ms Bhutto said it was shocking that a young woman who sought the help of Parliament should end up being treated so brutally and callously. She said the rape and brutal treatment of Sonia Naz and humiliation of her entire family showed that the women of this country had to fight discrimination against them while seeking justice.

Ms Bhutto said those who tortured and raped Sonia Naz appeared to have done so because crimes against women were seldom punished.

When criminals involved in such cases get scot free either because they were too powerful or because of the apathy of the society towards women victims, it only encouraged more such crimes against them, she said.

Ms Bhutto sought a judicial probe into the incident to ascertain the truth, and severe punishment to those guilty of the crime.

She also urged the human rights bodies and members of legal fraternity to raise their voice against the perpetrators of the crime. She directed various committees of the party to take up the matter at relevant forums.