TOBA TEK SINGH: A young boy was arrested by Chuttiana police on Saturday for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl in Chak 301-GB.

According to the FIR registered under section 376 of the PPC, the complainant stated that the suspect lured her daughter to an orchard outside the village, where he raped her. Upon hearing the child’s cries, neighbouring farmers rushed to the scene, but the suspect fled.

The rape survivor was shifted to Chuttiana Rural Health Centre.

The same suspect had previously raped a woman on July 31, 2024, when she was returning to her village from farmland.

A case had already been registered against him, and police had been searching for him.

BOOKED: Seven people were booked by Shorkot Cantonment police for killing a boy and injuring four others over an old enmity in Chak 5-Gagh, Shorkot tehsil.

According to the FIR registered under Sections 302, 324, 148, and 149 of the PPC, complainant Shakil Ahmad stated that his son, Wasif Kamal, was on his way to buy commodities with Manzar Abbas when their rivals — Imran, Danish, Babar, Umair, Maajid, Ghulam Rasool and Javed — opened indiscriminate fire over a farmland ownership dispute.

Both of them, along with three others — Ayaz, Irfan, and Atif — sustained bullet wounds.

Wasif died on the spot, while the four injured were shifted to Shorkot THQ Hospital.

WOMEN’S DAY: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), in collaboration with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), observed International Women’s Day in Faisalabad.

During the event, HRFP and TFD highlighted the significance of gender equality in achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda. The discussion focused on how gender equality is vital for attaining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and for fostering an inclusive society.

HRFP President Naveed Walter said gender equality is a fundamental human right and key to the economic growth of developing countries, increased productivity, and overall development. However, he said that gender inequality remains deeply rooted, with women facing barriers to decent employment, occupational segregation and wage gaps.

He pointed out that women from religious minorities, particularly Christian and Hindu communities, face disproportionate levels of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse due to their faith.

Speakers at the event, including Nusrat Samuel, Naseem Haroon, Rehana Farooq, Sadaf Shadman, Mehek Saleem, Nida Naeem and Munahil Dad, said that violence and discrimination against women — especially those from low-income backgrounds—often go unreported.

They attributed these violations to unsafe workplaces, lack of authority, undue religious influence, and a weak justice system, making it difficult for women to claim their rights.

Meanwhile, Raja Thomas, Ijaz Ghori, John Victor, James Lal, Manzoor Anthony, Shadman John and Hamdosh Samuel stressed the need for greater economic empowerment of women.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2025