KARACHI, Feb 8: A meeting of various non-governmental organizations working for human rights condemned the assault on a lady doctor in Sui and decided to hold a demonstration, in support of the victim who was raped on Jan 2.

The demonstration would be organized by the NGOs on at Regal Chowk on Feb 12.

The meeting was organized by the Joint Action Committee for People's Rights, comprising War Against Rape, Aurat Foundation, Shirkat Gah, Women Action Forum, Amnesty International, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Medical Association, Mubariza, Aahung and the Pakistan Reproductive Health Network.

The NGOs demanded that the victim be allowed to exercise her fundamental rights in the pursuit of justice and that full protection be provided to her and her family.

They demanded that the contents of the FIR and the names of the accused be made public, and accused be apprehended and prosecuted and all those obstructing justice be also apprehended and prosecuted.

They also condemned the attitude of PPL doctors and officials, who tried to conceal the incident, denied police access to the victim and prevented any medical examination. They refused to even contact her family till Jan 5.

They said that it took over a week for the police to record her statement, and that after public protest a tribunal established on Jan 11, and medical examination was carried out on Jan 15.

The meeting said that it was disturbed that the names of the accused had not been made public and that the guards implicated in the case have not been questioned. They also criticized the attitude of all those who were putting pressure on the husband of the lady doctor to divorce her and declare her a Kari. The also expressed concern that the lady doctor was being held in communicado with no access to legal, medical and social support.