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Published 16 May, 2010 12:00am

Gang-rape of teenage girl: Govt backing criminals in rural areas: WAF leader

DADU, May 15 A large number of people, inculding women, activists of different political parties and social welfare organisations took out a procession in Johi on Saturday in protest against police for failing to arrest the people nominated in the gang-rape case of a girl.

Ten days ago, eight people had kidnapped the 14-year-old daughter of a farmer of taluka Johi, assaulted her and released her the same day.

Two accused Allah Dino Leghari and Hassan have been arrested, but the remaining including, Ayoub, Laique, Allah Ditto and Mehboob, were not arrested.

The procession held under aegis of the Women Action Forum started from Makhdoom Bilawal Park and terminated at Johi press club.

Forum leaders Amar Sindhu, Irfana Mallah and social worker and writer Dr Hameed Soomro led the protest. Carrying placards and banners, they raised slogans for the arrest of the accused.

Speaking on the occasion, Amar Sindhu said that it was the negligence of the elected PPP MPA and MNA that the accused were not arrested after passage of 10 days.

She alleged that the PPP government was supporting criminals in the rural areas of Sindh.

She said that it was the third gang-rape during the PPP government in Sindh.According to her, the accused of gang-rape cases were not arrested due to inefficiency of police and the government.

She announced that if all the accused nominated in the FIR of the rape case were not arrested, they would launch a series of strikes throughout the country.

Dr Hameed Soomro said that poor people of Johi taluka had cast their votes in favour of PPP but the party legislators belonging to Johi remained silent spectators over that tragic incident. He accused Johi police of providing shelter to the criminals.

If justice was not provided to the victim girl, residents of Johi, activists of civil society and political party and writers would continue protesting against the crime, he said.

Local social worker Uzra Memon said that the accused were roaming about freely after the incident, but police failed to arrest them. She said that the women social welfare organisation would take up the case on national and international levels and would provide all legal and moral support to the victim.

Irfana Mallah told reporters that incidents of gang rape were increasing during the PPP government as criminals were given a free hand and elected MPAs and MNAs were supporting them. She said that Johi police was supporting the accused nominated in the gang-rape case.

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