ISLAMABAD, July 15: The National Commission on Status of Women has requested the interior ministry to beef up the security of Meerwala gang-rape victims — Mukhtiaran Mai and her brother Shakoor Tatla — and their family.

Justice Majida Rizvi, chairperson of the commission, told this reporter that they feared a Mastoi tribe backlash in the wake of the arrests.

Considering that in similar cases on record, powerful families subdued the plaintiffs by hook or crook to go scot- free, the commission was actively pursuing the case, Ms Rizvi said.

She expressed her satisfaction over the replacement of Investigating Officer Saeed Awan who had allegedly pressurized the victims’ family to record statements favouring the Mastois.