LAHORE, March 19: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Saturday rejected the official claim that Dr Shazia, the victim of rape at Sui, was sent abroad by a non-government organization. ?Official attempts were, no doubt, made to persuade a leading NGO to make arrangements to send Dr Shazia abroad, but it (NGO) turned down the request,? HRCP chairperson Tahir Mohammad Khan and secretary-general Hina Jilani said in a joint statement released after considering the issue at a meeting of its council.

The HRCP office-bearers said the statement attributed to Dr Shazia differed from the version and that raised further doubts about the credibility of the news stories concerning her departure and the comments she had herself made on the occasion.

They said access to Dr Shazia was denied by government agencies for weeks and the HRCP was the only civil society organization which was able to meet her amid hostility by the agency personnel. ?Correspondent