RAWALPINDI, Oct 29: The Human Rights Society of Pakistan (HRSP) has decided to give human rights award for the year 2002 to Mukhtaran Bibi, who was molested on the orders of a village Panchayat near Multan.

The HRSP secretary general, A. M. Shakoori, told this agency that the meeting to decide about the awards was held here on Tuesday and was presided over by the HRSP president, S. M. Zafar.

The meeting decided to give the award to Mukhtaran Bibi for her courage to expose the atrocities of the Punchayat to the media.

Besides she remained determined and took a bold stand in the court, which led to awarding of death sentence to the culprits.

The HRSP also decided to give an award to a blind woman, Dr Salma Maqbool, belonging to Islamabad for her dedication and support to a number of families.

The third award went to late Shakeel Pathan of Hyderabad, who helped in the release of a number of Haris from the private jails of feudal lords in Sindh.

The committee decided to give the fourth award to Bishop of Lahore, Dr John Alexander Malik, for his services to the mankind.

The award-giving ceremony will be held in Lahore on December 10, Mr Shakoori added.—APP