The Lahore-based weekly JADD-O-JAHD published a heart-rending article on october 22, 1997 which should be an eye opener for all. The story was titled "SANA KHWAN-E-TAQDEES-E-MASHRIQ KAHAN HEIN".




A woman recitor of QURAN and mother of five children,
Rashida Bibi was gang raped the other day. The following day she
committed suicide. But this is not a solitary case, there are
innumerable cases like that. The atmosphere of crime, murder, arson,
high-handedness, black marketing, corruption and social imbalance has
enveloped us. What is more, total inertia has overtaken our society.
When the rapists began the heinous crime, she cried aloud which
resounded in the entire bazaar. But no ’MALE ' mustered courage to
come to her rescue. She continued to be molested and nobody sensitised
to her cries.


The perpetrators of crime against Rashida Bibi are connected with the
ruling party's former Councillor. These people, intoxicated with power,
have been holding the record of political clout and crime. The culprits
cared two hoots for the harshest law against rape. Because of their close
links with the police and approach to the sources of power, even proper
investigation of this case is hampered. The entire case has benn distorted
and alibi proviaed for the culprits. There is political motivation in
distorting the case.


This incident took place around october 22, 1997 and a week later, on
october 28, 1997, the urdu newspaper DAILY JANG OF LONDON reported
another incident of similar nature. It said : " In the provincal capital
( Lahore ) more than a hundred women have been raped in last ten months,
out of them 28 were subjected to gang rape. A Karachi - based English
Daily, quoting its Lahore correspondent reported that maximum numbers of
rapes, 29 in all, took place Cantonment Police Division of Lahore, 26 in
Saddar Division, 24 in City Division and 23 in Model Town Division. The
police did not file FIR in more than 35 cases only and the rest were
threatened and intimidated to register cases under Hudood Ordinance.
Six raped women were murdered after the rape and two committed suicide.
The latest incident took place on October 3, 1997 in the Shah Colony of
Cajarpora. Influential goons kidnapped a mother of five children, locked
her up and raped her. As they set her free, they gave her three hundred
rupees. No sooner did she reach her home than she committed suicide ".
According to an official report only 20% rape cases from the cities and
80% from the villages were reported in 1996. From the province of Punjab,
only 16% of rape cases were reported to the police.


The following shows a glimpse of police. November 13, 1997, NNI reports,
" A married woman was subjected to gang-grape by five men, including
three policemen, in Guddo Shehar near Jaccobabad. Assistant Sub-Inspector
(ASI), watchman along with others forced their entry into her house and
raped her. The rapists later fled the scene."


This precedented rise in henious crime of rape against woman only
parallels only the dreaded Khar's era in Punjab This sudden & escalating
increase in rape is a by-product of our cultural denegration or alleged
western cultural invasion through media is open for debate.