Gang-rape in Sui

Mystery shrouds doctor’s rape case

Hasan Mansoor
The government, police and the PPL management seem to have joined hands to ensure that the truth of Shazia`s rape is kept from the media and the public
The Friday Times
Jan 28-Feb 3, 2005

While the government has indicated that it would allow the DNA test of the army officer suspected of raping Dr Shazia Khalid Khwaja in the hostel of the Sui Field Hospital, events so far have only served to deepen the mystery and indicated that officials might be trying a cover-up.

Immediately after news of the alleged gang rape broke out, Dr Shazia was shifted from Sui to Karachi and has so far not been allowed to speak with the media or human and women’s rights organisations. A judge of the Balochistan High Court flew to Karachi to record the doctor’s statement which he did at an undisclosed location and then returned to Quetta as quietly as he had flown to Karachi.

What most observers find surprising is that the government and its agencies are trying hard to keep the doctor away from the media. Newspaper and TV channels were not informed about the presence of the judge or where the doctor was made to depose before the one-man tribunal of Justice Ahmed Khan Lashari. The contents of her statements also remain unknown, making analysts question the reasons for her prolonged silence.

Even more objectionable is the attitude of the management of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). The incident happened in a heavily guarded perimeter. Not only that it did happen despite security, the PPL management would not allow the local police to enter the perimeter and investigate the incident or talk to the victim. A preliminary investigation report submitted by the local police questions the role of PPL officials at the Sui field and accuses them of covering up the incident in an attempt to protect the ‘real’ culprits.

The report says the PPL officials did not help the police contact the victim immediately after the rape either to examine her or to record her statement. The report also alleges that the victim was shifted to Karachi against police advice. The report revealed that while police officials tried to record the statements of some nurses, two lady doctors of the hospital and other PPL staff on duty, the PPL management did not cooperate with investigating officials. Sources say the PPL tried to sweep the matter under the carpet by shifting Shazia from Sui to a Karachi psychiatry hospital immediately after the rape.

According to another report prepared by the police, PPL officials initially claimed that the case was one of theft. This claim was, of course, immediately struck off by the Naseerabad district police whose report also questioned how could the victim be moved from Sui to Karachi if she were unconscious – which was the reason provided by the PPL management for why Shazia was unable to give a statement – and why she could not give a statement if she had indeed been in a state in which she could travel.

Sources say Shazia was shifted to the Karachi hospital as an “acutely depressed and traumatised” person for the treatment of a mental illness. “PPL officials who escorted her to the hospital tried to provide an incorrect medical history of the patient to the hospital,” a source told TFT. “The doctors at the hospital became suspicious after finding several inconsistencies in the statements of the PPL staff who brought Shazia to the hospital. They finally called her relatives and were told that she had been raped,” added the source.

It was after this that the private hospital suggested that Shazia be moved to a government hospital for her medico-legal examination. She later underwent medical examination at the police surgeon’s office where it was confirmed that she had been raped. The medico-legal examiners found bruises on her writs and ankles suggesting that she had been tied with a wire-like thing. Contusion marks and nail-scratches were also found on different parts of her body. The report also confirmed that more than one person was involved in the rape.

Keeping in mind PPL’s attitude towards the police, the district coordination officer of Naseerabad, Abdul Samad Lasi, told TFT that the police had registered two FIRs in the case: one against the culprits involved in the rape and another against the doctors at the PPL who had covered up the incident.

However, the police that initially protested the PPL’s cover-up is now itself involved in keeping the truth about Shazia’s case away from the media. The efforts of journalists to get inside her Clifton apartment remain unsuccessful in the presence of heavily armed guards. In fact, it is not just the police that has been deputed to keep a watch on the building but several agencies have also been tasked to keep the media away from the premises.

A close relative of Shazia who recently visited Karachi to distribute cards for a family wedding told TFT that he had not been able to meet Shazia but that conversations with the rest of her family showed that they were greatly disturbed by the situation “Shazia’s family have stopped watching television due to the fear of what they might hear or see in speculative reports,” said Shazia’s relative. “They are already quite disturbed by a report that appeared in a Sindhi newspaper in which the names and addresses of each member of the family were published, making it difficult for them to maintain social relations with close relatives and family members residing in their native village,” he added.

Recently, Shazia’s husband Khalid Khwaja told the secretary general of the Pakistan Medical Association, Dr Shershah Syed, that the family was frightened that feudal elements in Khairpur would try to kill Shazia as a kari.

“I could not meet Shazia at her house but I have talked to her husband on the telephone a few times,” Dr Syed told TFT. “Khalid has requested that I arrange for Shazia to leave the country if it means her life will be saved.”

“This fear is unfounded because Shazia’s family and community in Khuhra have no connections with the feudal lords; they are business people who own shops and small pieces of land used for mango farming,” said an observer. “Certainly, those that her family claim want to kill her have no blood relation with her.”

However, the family’s concern for Shazia’s life has prompted NGOs from western countries to take interest in the case and offer to help save her life by arranging for Shazia to leave the country. “We are in contact with all concerned parties and are hopeful that we will succeed in protecting her,” Syed said. “If she is facilitated by these NGOs and goes abroad, the government will be relieved of the burden of protecting her.”

Information gathered from Sindh and Balochistan suggests that the public is not at all pleased with the fact that Shazia is in the undeclared custody of the authorities while the army captain who has been accused of raping her is being given the opportunity to appear on state-run as well as private television channels and declare his innocence.

“Circumstances suggest that Shazia is not wilfully silent; she is most probably being forced to remain silent,” Ali Hasan Chandio, a Sindhi nationalist and vice chairman of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand (progressive) Party told TFT.

yes yes....

I can see.... another GAME has started.....

Now seriously.... Punjab should think about.... Letting All others GO....

Its not worth it any more......



.

Three cheers for Mr. Imran. Well the only way out is a revolution. “Not by our pre-tested political gurus” but by the proletariat. I recently visited Pakistan and asked a friend about the current political scenario and the reply was:
“in democracy only the politicians and their families took kickbacks but nowadays the whole army + their friends in addition to the politicians, civil servants and judiciary are taking kickbacks”

Inqalab zindabad!!

Chand roz our…
By Faiz Ahmed Faiz

cha.nd roz aur merii jaan faqat cha.nd hii roz
zulm kii chhaa.Nv me.n dam lene par majabuur hai.n ham
ik zaraa aur sitam sah le.n ta.Dap le.n ro le.n
apane ajdaad kii miiraas hai maazuur hai.n ham
jism par qaid hai jazbaat pe za.njiire hai
fikr mahabuus hai guftaar pe taaziire.n hai.n
aur apanii himmat hai ki ham phir bhii jiye jaate hai.n
zindagii kyaa kisii muflis kii qabaa hai
jis me.n har gha.Dii dard ke paiba.nd lage jaate hai.n
lekin ab zulm kii miyaad ke din tho.De hai.n
ik zaraa sabr ki fariyaad ke tho.De hai.n
arsaa-e-dahar kii jhulasii hu_ii viiraanii me.n
ham ko rahanaa hai par yuu.N hii to nahii.n rahanaa hai
ajanabii haatho.n kaa benaam garaa.N-baar sitam
aaj sahanaa hai hameshaa to nahii.n sahanaa hai
ye terii husn se lipaTii hu_ii aalaam kii gard
apanii do rozaa javaanii kii shikasto.n kaa shumaar
chaa.Ndanii raato.n kaa bekaar dahakataa huaa dard
dil kii besuud ta.Dap jism kii maayuus pukaar
cha.nd roz aur merii jaan faqat cha.nd hii roz

Re: # 37



Rape is the most heinous crime but unfortunately it is not treated as a state case like murder. As it is, they expect the rape victim to lodge an FIR. As no FIR was lodged by the victim who was stated to be in a state of severe trauma there was no formal accused in this case. In fact, as appears from the reports, the local police was not allowed to investigate the case and the victim was shifted to Karachi out of jurisdiction of that police. It is perhaps the first time in history that before the victim could even tell her story the man suspected of the crime has been allowed to make a pre-emptive defense on the national TV in its prime time.

Isn’t it the rape of our legal and judicial system?

Re: # 40
Arjun,
{``or if they happened, they were justified because they were part of a military operations(i`m not making this up...salim actually said this on UP)...``}

I am flattered to find that the eminent Indian interactor is paraphrasing me. Yes, the Pak army`s record in treatment of its own civilians is at the best, dismal, except in Punjab, which is where most of them hail from. The record speaks for itself:

BD - 1971
Karachi - 1989 - 1999
Wana - 2004
Baluchistan - 2005

Raping, killing, torturing happened in Karachi during civilian ``democratic`` governments of BB and Nawaz Sharif - so let`s not be hasty in blaming military rule for all rapes. It sure makes all those charges against Indian military`s behavior in J&K sound very hollow. Sorry folks, I got to call it as I see it.

Yes Sir, I know, an accused is innocent until proven guilty. Very true. But since when suspects of a gang-rape, I repeat, gang-rape roam about, give TV interviews -- till proven guilty?

Give me a break, please. Zardari – rest assured, I have no love lost for that rascal - was kept in jail for 8 long years ever coming remotely closer to “proven guilty”. And you would agree that it is not likely that Zardari would ever be proven guilty … still almost all of us are almost sure about his many wrongdoings.

Likewise, would you explain any logical, rational reason to keep that doctor in hiding and to obstruct the police coming close to her? I mean the whole affair would have evaporated in thin air by now had she said that it was NOT that despicable Captain Hammad who forced into her room.

Then comes the idiocy: “His Highness Capt. Hammad” offering [sic] himself for DNA test. Oh! I see. How nice, how generous of him. Sir, bloody civilians are gratified. Kindly present him 21-guns salute on our behalf for being so courteous and showing willingness to be available. I really feel like kicking $hit out of him.

Imagine, your sister, my sister has been raped. Yes,dear, to me even that young lady raped and burnt in Karachi is as honourable as that hapless doctor or yours and mine sister and we fail to raise our voice, what justification would we have to exist as a nation, to call ourselves human beings let alone Muslims in that case.

Thanks a lot for reading my humble contribution on the subject and your extremely enlightening replies.

Best regards,

Yours truly

Malik Imran
Finland

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Malik Sahib,
Thanks for a timely and logical essary. I have also been wondering ``What is this PUNJABI obsession with rape?``

I hate to generalize but the picture seems to be emerging. PUNJABIS have a predisposition toward rape. In 1857, during the sack of Delhi, PUNJABI SIkh soldiers were leading the rapes of Muslim women and Mughal princesses of the city. In 1858, Sikhs raped the Muslim nobility of Lucknow. In 1947, PUNJABI Muslims raped and looted PUNJABI Sikh and PUNJABI Hindu women in West Punjab. PUNJABI Sikhs and some PUNJABI Hindus raped and slaughtered PUNJABI Muslim women in East Punjab and those travelling from Delhi and Western UP in trains to Pakistan. In 1971, the mostly PUNJABI Pakistan Army raped Bengali Hindu and Muslim women.

I don`t want to prejudice the outcome of any investigation but I would guess that the rapists of the lady physician and the Australian cricket rape victim were both PUNJABIS. What`s the problem? Don`t these PUNJUS get any at home? Are their own women so ugly and fat that they need to engage in this forceful extracurricular sexual debauchery?

Does anything , anything discussed here makes any one think ? or we all are trying to bash each other? .. The Yindo`s ( Indians ) obviously trying there best to somehow tell us that Balochistan is Kashmir ( that means that Kashmiris really are fighting for the he right of freedom thanks to atleast accepting this ) - secondly, my brothers and sisters from Pakistan are trying to say to the Yindos ( Indians ) no , Balochistan is not Kashmir - or former East Pakistan - that leaves the root cause issue unaddressed ..!
We have a situation in Balochistan where Sardars ( Feudrals ) of Balochistan are fighting for the sake of fighting and the Army is fighting to convey that they are still in control - in between is the issue which is of NFC Awards and Royalties which is somehow been wrongly distributed . I do think the province of Punjab which is the biggest province of Pakistan according to population needs to show to the rest of remaining provinces that Punjab does care about other provinces.
Today PMA ( Pakistan Medical Assoc.) said in a statement that Dr. Sahiba along with her family is leaving Pakistan ( I think a wise move ) - I wish her good luck . The need of the hour is to negociate with Sardars ( and I know for sure due to my family members in one of the biggest Baloch Tribes in Balochistan and my father`s role in I.B ) this situation could be handled. To solve this problem Pres. Sahib should take a personal intrest and solve the problem even if Pres. Sabih has to fly to Dera Bhugtti. I know someone who lives in Karachi in a one bed room flat and is working for Americans whos very close to Bhugtti Sahib infact he knows what Bhugtti`s net step would be , Government of Pakistan should use him .

re: Malik Imran

``According to a fresh investigation report released by the U.N. headquarters into the misdemeanours of U.N. peacekeepers stationed in Congo, Pakistani military officials, along with their counterparts from some other countries, were involved in systematic rape, prostitution paedophilia and not surprisingly subsequently obstructing U.N. inspectors looking into the allegations of sexual misconduct and sought to bribe witnesses to change their incriminating testimonies. ``

Actually these misdemeanors are alleged. There are 68 cases of ``alleged`` rape by UN peacekeepers from six countries (Nepal, Uruguay, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa and Pakistan). No witnesses or evidence has been produced yet.

``Musharraf says it is not 1971. Yes, it is not!``

Actually Musharraf said that this is ``not the 1970s``. You apparently misunderstood what he said. He was referring to the 1973-77 insurgency in Baluchistan. He wasn`t referring to East Pakistan and the 1971 war.

``And since when we have started allotting prime time slot on national TV for alleged rapists to present their defence?``

Since when have we started taking allegations as proof of guilt? What right did Nawab Bugti and Marri tribesmen have in delivering verdict against Capt.Hammad and attacking the Sui installations? When allegations made through the media provoke people to take the law into their hands, then it is perfectly ethical and fair to allow the accused to present his defence on TV.

One is more likely to get raped or exploited by a Bugti sardar than by an Army captain. You are probably not aware that Akbar Bugti`s son Salim Bugti was an incorrigible womanizer who often abducted women from wells and bazaars. The criminal feudal system in Balochistan represents the last lawless frontier in Pakistan.

In addition to my previous post, I would admit that in a country like Pakistan, it`s very hard to implement a strong legal system. The system has its own highs and lows, but it`s all about might is right and instituting law and order by force vs. teaching the basics in schools and colleges and institutions.

Lack of good opportunities for the general masses definitely creates wide chasms. Sometimes, one cannot even associate with the people of one`s origin mainly due to a complete different mindset.

In case of Baluchistan vs. the rest of Pakistan, obviously that world is very different and has not been treated well and fairly. The Baluchis` only source to put their foot down is by force than by anything else. By the way, all these assemblies and stuff must have reps from Baluchistan. Cannot they raise their concerns with a sane approach? On second thoughts, even if they do that, I am sure they know the results - no one will pay any heed and false promises will kick in. No doubt they like to dwell on gas lines to teach a lesson to their oppressors.

In the end, it`s all about keeping the country together. Unfortunately, there are very few similarities amongst the provinces except for the fact that religion is used or abused to keep people together. Ironically, people who have been making an effort to introduce religion abuse it the most.

NY Times had an interesting article this weekend on a Muslim country that is on the verge of being declared as an extremist country. Nope, it ain`t Pakistan. It`s Bangladesh. The pictures are ugly and abhorrent. Then they lament when the Westerners land on their lands to protect and teach civility.

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GANG RAPE OF SUI

Na Pak Fauj Used These Weapons of Mass Destruction to Annihilate me and My Family





Na Pak Fauj on its way to murder Pakistani Citizens (The newspaper caption however says that ``Army is training in Kashmore at Baluchistan-Punjab border)



The homicidal maniac and war criminal of Na Pak fauj Syed Athar Ali, Commander Jamshoro, instructing soldiers on how to kill Pakistani citizens

I wonder when some chowky friends compare the army and the civilian political parties in the matter of governing the country. They forget that some fundamental moral and constitutional principles are involved in allowing any public servant to start ruling the nation. Then the question arises whether the Pak army can be considered as a public service organization subject to the rules of conduct prescribed for the public servants in general. This is the crux of the matter. How paradoxical it may seem, the Pak army still enjoys the status of the colonial army of the British Raj. Why? Because, in my view, no Pakistani nation worth the name could come into existence even after passage of 57 years of the existence of the country. Our National Anthem says “Qoum, Mulk, Saltanat, Paainda Tabinda Baad” when it actually should have been “Fouj, Mulk…..”. To attain our independence we will perhaps have to fight a war of independence like our East Pakistani brethren did. There is no other alternative to this. As for the politicians they are all stooges of the army. Look at Nawaz Sharif, he invited Army to take over the WAPDA and even the Railway, which obviously meant that all the civil society was composed of thieves and the army was the `Holy Cow’. How the citizens of Pakistan being consumer of the electricity, a national asset, suffered at the hands of corrupt WAPDA backed by ‘holy’ khakies requires a commission to look into like that of Hamoodurehman’s.

# 30 arjun_m
That link was Bookmarked by me. I had to format my hard drive once and although I had saved all of my important data in other drives, it was only Bookmarks which were lost. But I read that by myself. It was not about Iraqi men, it was about US soldiers. Why would I create such story by myself?

# 28 faylasuf
Army is to be blamed because if some crime is done by an army officer (which are plenty), it is covered by the whole institution. But if some crime is done by a civilian, ....................... One such ``crime`` was done by Constable Nazir Dogar, who stopped the car of a General because tinted glasses were banned. And not only that constable was beaten severly but also the officers of that constable had to suffer from the wrath of that general too (Don`t remember exactly they were fired or transferred).
They have to realize that we want army back in the barracks. The argument about incompetence of Nawaz and Benazir is totally invalid (and always presented by army people). First of all, political processes have to be allowed to carry on, improvements come with time. Secondly, even if one has a bad thing (corrupt politicians), he should NOT opt for the worst (army). Only after a few years of political process, some power hungry army general ``conquers`` the parliament house and carry on until his death. Let`s wait for another C130 for the present dictator.