MULTAN, Sept 14: The state on Saturday filed an appeal with the Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, against the acquittal of eight accused in the Meerwala gang-rape.

Dera Ghazi Khan anti-terrorism court had handed down death sentence, life imprisonment on two counts, 30 lashes and Rs4,000 fine each to six convicts and acquitted eight for want of evidence.

The victim, Mukhtaran Mai, had accused the acquitted people were the part of the strong Mastoi clan that enforced the Panchayat’s verdict of gang-rape in Muzaffargarh district. The victim and already filed appeals against the acquittal of the eight accused and non-punishment of the convicts under section 354-A which deals with the offence to strip a women and exposing her to public view.