Cover-Up of a Gang Rape by the Military?

Re: # 161
``On a sidenote, this discussion has unnecessarily been turned into a Pakistan is terrible, USA is great discussion, and hence the West should invade Pakistan, by ZahraJ. As I suggested earlier, rape is a worldwide phenomenon. And a phenomenon, which the USA has its hands full with, also. We should recognize that. And not ape everything the West does on every issue. We should only ape, those things which have been handled well in the West``

Romair,
while you have a point regarding statistics, we cannot deny the fact that the West, especially USA have some good systems where crimes against women are concerned. We have to admit that not only Pakistan, but nearly all third world countries lag far behind in dealing with crimes against women. As you say that `we should only ape, those things which have been handled well in the West`. Well crimes against women is something they certainly handle much better than us. We need to study their methods and adapt them to our socio-cultural environment. Maybe we can come up with something that is better than what we have now.

BBC reports that the DNA samples do not match any of the accused.
Here is also the highlights of the report given by PPL to the Parliament.

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ISLAMABAD: A highly confidential internal classified report of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) to be unfolded in a closed-door meeting today (Wednesday) could give a new twist to the rape of Dr Shazia.

The seven-page presentation to members of the National Assembly standing committee on Petroleum Ministry today, will highlight threats to the life of Dr Shazia after the rape. Sources said the word of threat has been used at least three times on different pages. The report says that it was because of these threats that she was immediately sent to Karachi and police guards posted outside her residence.

However, the secret report does not say that from which quarter the personal security of Dr Shazia was under threat after her rape. The PPL report available with The News also quotes a responsible authority as saying that 3-4 defence security guards were seen coming out of the lady doctor’s house.

The PPL has claimed that ‘law and order disturbance at Sui may not entirely be connected with Dr Shazia incident’. The PPL report contains details of the rape incident of January 2 that has triggered a violent reaction in Balochistan province. This view is shared by 17 MNAs of the National Assembly committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, who are meeting here on Friday.

A comprehensive briefing will be given by the top management of PPL in a closed- door meeting. Petroleum Minister Amanullah Jadoon and secretary of the ministry have been asked to appear before the committee and answer questions put by the committee to be presided over by MNA Dr Noorjahan Panezai.

The PPL report defends the top management of PPL, earlier accused by police of concealing facts of the rape case and destroying the evidence from the spot.

Since eruption of the crisis in Balochistan, the PPL bosses for the first time have made an attempt to get their name clear and directly held the lady doctor responsible for delayed action against the culprits. The report has alleged that none other than Dr Shazia herself stopped the PPL administration from a prompt police action, as she continued to insist that she was robbed, not sexually assaulted.

The report has disclosed that the lady doctor herself stopped the PPL administration from getting a FIR registered against the alleged culprits as she wanted to wait for her husband who was out of the country at that time.

The Petroleum Ministry has also accused the national media of ‘blowing the issue out of proportion’ as it thought that the incident did not deserve such kind of converge at the national and international level.

According to the available copy of the classified report, the Pakistan Petroleum Limited has given details of the incident and made an attempt to replies charges levelled against its administration.

Giving details of the rape events, the official report said, the incident actually occurred on the night of January 2 and 3, when she was alone in her room. When people rushed to her place to help here , Dr Shazia said that she was only robbed of her belongings. She did not tell anyone at the spot that she was also raped by robbers.

However, the report said it was evident that Dr Shazia was traumatized and she wanted to proceed to Karachi to be with her family immediately. The report further says that Dr Shazia also desired that she did not want to lodge any FIR against anyone or lodge complaint with the local police. The PPL claimed that its staff immediately provided medication appropriate to her condition.

On January 3, SHO Sui visited the hospital and did not find her in a normal condition as she was unable to give any statement to the police. The next day, the SHO went to the residence of the lady doctor and inspected the room where the rape was reported. He also took certain evidences from the scene of the crime.

The PPL claimed that it fully facilitated the visit of SHO to the house of the lady doctor and extended full cooperation. However, the report said that on the night of January 4/5, the lady doctor was moved to Karachi and for consideration of her ‘personal security’ and treatment and enable her to be with the family.

On January 5, she was taken by her family to the residence. The PPL report said that in the judgement of the PPL management the ‘well being and security’ of lady doctor at that time was of foremost importance.

On January 7, the SHO was given the address of Dr Shazia in Karachi and assured of full cooperation. On January 7, the manager Sui wrote to police authorities and DCO Dera Bugti about the incident as learnt from Dr Shazia.

Earlier, on January 3, the district Nazim wrote to DAO with copies to senior officials alleging that PPL lady doctor was raped, asking him to investigate and take a stern action against the culprits.

The report has quoted the district Nazim as writing to authorities that 3 or 4 DSP were seem coming out of lady doctor house after allegedly raping her. The next day, a DSG officer was named as the prime accused and the PPL’s Sui office received a copy of this letter on January 5. On January 8, the management requested police authorities in Balochistan and Karachi to provide immediate security at Shazia’s residence as her security was in danger.

In her statement, Dr Shazia said, she was not in a position to give any statement, but added that she would get an FIR registered after consulting her husband, who was then out of country. On January 11 the government of Balochistan ordered a judicial enquiry. The PPL report has also lashed out at the media and police for claiming that its management was involved in hiding the case.

The report said that there was no truth in media reports and police statements alleging that PPL management had concealed evidence, and that it had not cooperated in the investigation. On the contrary, the report claimed that the above events show that the PPL management did not destroy any evidence, but on contrary provided all help to investigating officers.

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Cheerios

Fuzair #158: ``US rape data, as reported by the FBI, is 32.1/100,000, or 93,433 in a population of 290,809,777. Not a great rate but not exactly the 72/100,000 of all women in the US who are raped as reported by your website.``

You might be misreading the data. The FBI data takes into account the whole population of the USA. This includes men and women, which places the total population at 290,000. We are obviously discussing the women being raped, as a % of women, from a population of women. Lets taket that to be 50% of the total population, i.e. 145,000.

The number of women being raped are around 91+% of the total. That would put it around 65% +/- per 100,000. About the same as I reported.

``In 2000, an estimated 62.7 of every 100,000 females in the country were victims of forcible rape. (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). October 22, 2001. Crime in the United States, 2000.`` (http://www.arte-sana.com/articles/sexual_assault_fact_sheet.htm)

This seems pretty close to the 72/100000.

Following is a very detailed study with references, and studies carried out by the US Dept. of Justice, and various other organizations, on rape, i.e. it is not based on statistics by, ``whaked out feminists who consider all men to be rapists.`` Kindly check it out:

http://www.umbrellavt.org/documents/National%20statistics%20for%20sv.pdf

According to this study, only 16% of the rapes are ever reported to the police. 27.2% of all female college students have had sexual experiences which are defined as rape. I can provide you with quite a bit more studies, if you are interested.

``Of the women who were raped, only 25% described it as rape......Now, my guess is that if 75% of these rape ``victims`` say it was not rape, then it was not rape!``

You are misunderstanding this statement. This was a figure specifically designated to college students. Date rape is a common phenomenon. Over a four year college period, 25% students are date-raped. A figure between 20-25% is what I have seen on multiple occcassions.

College students (actually a lot of women who are raped) do not want to describe rape as rape. There are huge psychological stigmas attached with being raped and admitting you were raped. If you talk to a woman who was raped in Pakistan (or anywhere else), more than likely, they will not admit that they were raped. Specifically in situations where they were raped by an acquitance or relative.

Perhaps Shankar could jump in here and explain in more detail. He must have counseled some rape victims. Do they openly declared they were raped, or do they not openly admit it?

On the whole, what you are basically suggesting is that rape statistics presented by women`s organizations, in the USA, are BS. Because women`s organizations basically consist of, ``whacked out feminists.`` Primarily because they think, ``just about all heterosexual sex is rape and that all men are rapists.``

Hmmm. Do women organizations really consider all men to be rapists?

I am afraid I cannot agree with you. I don`t think all women`s organizations present BS. And none of them are suggesting that, ``all men are rapists.`` Your opinion about womens` organizations is basically a personal opinion of yours. You will have to quantify it in some manner, to be considered valid.

The statistics don`t support your suggestions...........

On a sidenote, this discussion has unnecessarily been turned into a Pakistan is terrible, USA is great discussion, and hence the West should invade Pakistan, by ZahraJ. As I suggested earlier, rape is a worldwide phenomenon. And a phenomenon, which the USA has its hands full with, also. We should recognize that. And not ape everything the West does on every issue. We should only ape, those things which have been handled well in the West...........

Re: # 159: Thank you, Fuzair!

Re: # 157: Thanks for proving a point that I have been bringing up. In case you did not sense it (and I do not think you did), I was being sarcastic in my previous post and wanted to highlight the hypocrisy in the social fabric of our Islamic Republic. I do not have issues with having good/ethical and bad/unethical existing under one umbrella. I do have issues when you let the bad set the direction for the good. That`s where a miracle needs to happen. It`s nothing to do with the religion. Pakistan has never been a country to follow any religious leaning in its true sense. Majority of the educated masses would opt for western concepts of freedom, opportunities and progress. And, the western concepts of freedom aren`t only limited to ``Sex in the City`` and ``The Desperate Housewives``. There is alot more to it.

The trouble arises when the 3rd world countries decide to follow the west in select ideologues and disregard the ones that are most crucial for the longevity and prosperity of their social fabric. That`s very sad and ironic.

Romair,

US rape data, as reported by the FBI, is 32.1/100,000, or 93,433 in a population of 290,809,777. Not a great rate but not exactly the 72/100,000 of all women in the US who are raped as reported by your website. So, the incidence is about 1/4th of what you claim. From 1994 to 2003, the rape incidence is down 18%. Maybe we do have something to learn from the US.

Here is the FBI site if you want to look at it yourself: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/03cius.htm Table 1.

RE: Romair #142

These rape statistics are among the made-up fake statistics put out by certain feminist groups that have a certain agenda to push. The best evidence of this is their own statistic on the page whose link you put up: ``Of the women who were raped, only 25% described it as rape.``

Now, my guess is that if 75% of these rape ``victims`` say it was not rape, then it was not rape! Its these same whacked out feminists who say that if a girl has sex, decides the next day it was a bad idea, this counts as rape! I am sure that there are many young female college students who really regret it the next day but, ipso facto, that doesn`t make it rape.

Basically, what these women are saying is that just about all heterosexual sex is rape and that all men are rapists. Frankly I am amazed that you put any credence in this extreme BS. These `statistics` are as fake and made up as the ``1 in 8`` BS put out about breast cancer incidence! At least get your data from a reliable source, e.g., FBI crime statistics, if you want to show how bad is the US.

#156 by ZahraJ
``Are you kidding here?``

No, I am not!
Obviously, you have lots of catching up to do on the kind of life the “darker sex” especially the privileged ones live in Pakistan. There are bad things about feudalism and then there are good things for some people. They don’t need jobs and the life is one long entertainment. Some useless young ones from the business families join them and there you have it. You don’t need clubs or discos for this kind of entertainment. It is different strokes for different folks.
As to the availability of the entertainment, every big and small city and even villages have this fun at a price and Sui is no exception.
it is hard to get numbers on this but there are about 10k to 15k entertainment workers in Karachi alone.
For comparison: Delhi has 70k entertainment workers.

Re: # 152

Are you kidding here? I see your point but it has some loop holes. The fellow has to be real pervert and evil. He was not on a date or in a club/bar in a cosmopolitan part of the world to be so well equipped. Then, I have never ever visited Baluchistan in my life and have read very little on the salient features except for the gas pipelines, dry fruit and certain kind of embroidery. There may be some exotic areas/islands in that part of the world for horny men. If it is true then do not you think that is an unfair privilege granted to the darker sex in a muslim land? You do not have to respond if you are uncomfortable to talk about it.

Irfan:

To summarize your long winded post: Each country should mind its own business. I am with you here, but I would have appreciated a less wishy-washy input .

My ``valid`` point is that a visible action is only taken when the international communities/human rights` groups start pressurizing the Pakistani Authorities.

- Have you ever wondered that why do the international communities/human rights` groups take that step?

- Is it because they know that the prevalent legal system in Pakistan is manipulated by the ruling powers (be it armed forces or industrial lords)?

- Is it because they know that the internal institutions are the victims themselves?

Now, you may say that who the hell are the external elements to advise and suggest. Very valid point! But when your people start looking up to the external elements to intervene then that says a lot. You better change your defensive rationale at that time. With due respect, do not give me any foolish argument to pacify. Some of you are really good at that to shift the focus - I am not sure if it’s to do with ideological insecurity or fear of acquiring fair western practices.

We do not believe in reincarnation in its true sense. So, the little life you have in this world needs to be respected and taken care of in a fair and just manner. And, no one should have to beg to the international communities to assist them in getting justice. That’s simply unacceptable and disrespectful to the basic civil rights of a human being.

Here’s where I feel that an international council can contribute to the well being of the distressed. By not having something of that significant nature, we are saying that some good people were destined to go through horrible things in life and that’s there fate. No ``significant`` action needs to be taken to avoid another incident of that nature. (And I understand that is not the group consensus on this board.)

My forefathers have been in the legal profession. And, while growing up, I have heard and seen of many of these cases go on and on for ages. I feel like giving some specific examples, but since they are not directly related to the ``subject`` under discussion therefore I want to avoid digression.

In an Islamic Republic, a man (regardless of his status and affiliation) who commits a crime of this nature should be taken to task. Since the ``Islamic Republics`` have little to do with Islam and more to do with ``un-Islamic`` practices therefore they should take their Islamic uniforms off and acquire the fair practices of the western world. If that hurts the finer senses of the close-minded bigots then let it happen. The said kind does not want the Pakistani Muslims to live in the present with fair and just rights. They want to take them 1000 years back.

Irony is that even if justice is granted to the victims, their lives will not be safe in Pakistan. A case of this nature will create a lot of ripples and a bad rap. In the end, the victims will take asylum in a western country and not in Saudi Arabia or Iran or Malaysia. Do not you see the damn irony of the! @#%%^ System! It amazes me when you guys write retarded logic(s) to cover up than facing what’s right in your face.

Please do not waste your time as well as others by writing a long-winded post with little or no relation to the issue under discussion. Also, please avoid sarcasm in your post towards me. If I consider a logic and rationale retarded, I would point that out. I do not express my views to pacify any male`s ego. Clear?

Thank You!

apologies for the cut n paste in advance: and this may make it in beena`s column on chowk later:

PERSONAL POLITICAL

The ultimate violation

By Beena Sarwar

``What happened to Shazia should not happen to anybody. And those who want to suppress the case, hid the reality, protect the sinners who committed this act, have they ever thought that this could happen in their own house too, to their own daughter or wife... What will they do then?

``My brother, who is the eldest son, the support of our old father, today when he talks to me, he starts crying. And I can do nothing, I cannot even dry my dear brother`s tears. Today my heart is weeping tears of blood along with his tears. Dr Shazia was the honour of our family, and Inshallah, always will be. She is the daughter of our household, our daughter-in-law. In our eyes, she is as pure and unsullied as she has ever been. Her honour has not reduced, nor will it ever be. But who knows why this educated society with its educated people armed with big degrees talk like illiterates, talk of Karo Kari. I ask them who has given them the right to pronounce such a sentence on an innocent, responsible doctor, that she should be killed, that she has no right to live. Under what law do they make these statement, where is the Ayat in the Quran that decrees punishment on the downtrodden?

``...Dr Shazia`s condition is deteriorating by the day. She can`t sleep at night. My brother sits up all night by her side with a light on, she is afraid of the dark, she screams. What she has gone through, it is very painful, the horror will always stay with her deep in her heart. She can`t face anyone, she is unable to meet anyone. A talented and responsible girl, a professional doctor, a saviour of human beings, is today fighting for her own life. She just wants to live with the same respect she had...``

This is a partial translation of the long, heartbreaking email that Dr Shazia`s sister-in-law Sameera Shah wrote from Canada to the Anaa News list, in Roman Urdu, posted out on January 31. Anaa is the American Asian Network Against Abuse of Women, set up by some concerned ex-pat Pakistani doctors based in the USA. They run an active email list focusing on violence against women, http://4anaa.org/, which has taken up the Sui rape case with great enthusiasm, including a signature campaign that they hope to pressurise the government into action with. They also initially offered to try and get Dr Shazia and her husband over to the USA, but appear to have realised that such a move is beyond their scope. Now a Canadian organisation of Pakistani-origin professionals has reportedly made such arrangements.

The Sui rape is probably Pakistan`s most high profile such case since the prominent politician Sardar Shaukat Hayat went public with the rape of his daughter Veena Hyat over a decade ago. Then too, there was a lot of public outrage, demonstrations, petitions and what not. In the end, those arrested were released for `lack of evidence`, and Veena Hayat eventually moved abroad. It is not just women who are raped who find no hope in this society. Those who marry without their family`s permission also often find themselves unable to live here, particularly if their case hits the headlines -- Shaista Almani, and earlier, Riffat Afridi and Saima Waheed Ropri, have all had to leave the country with their husbands, for fear of being killed if they remained in Pakistan.

Obviously, sending threatened women away is no solution to the problem, but it has become a form of political asylum. The main reason for this, and for the increase in violence against women, as has been pointed out again and again, is the lack of rule of law, the fact that culprits are never arrested, tried and punished. The lack, eventually, of accountability. And without accountability, we cannot build a just, democratic society, in which the citizens feel safe and secure.

It is all very well and good that the government is engaged in the image building of Pakistan. We all agree that this country is misrepresented in the West and even in the East, and that there`s a lot more to life in the Land of the Pure than violent fanatics who would like to criminalise every little joy in life (much like the Saudis who banned red roses on Valentine`s Day). But unless we Pakistanis feel safe and secure in our own land, why would foreign investors be willing to risk life and limb in this potentially promising investment climate. It`s only a few crazies more attuned to journalism and/or social development than investments and finance, like the Brits George Fulton and Chris Cork, or Germans Claus Euler and Hans Bremer (all married, incidentally, to Pakistani women), or the UK-based American Ethan Casey who will take the risk of living here for any extended period (There are a few brave women too).

Pakistan is probably one of the few countries where violence against women is actually on the rise. According to official figures cited in the HRCP Report 2004, an average of a thousand women die in Pakistan every year as a result of `honour` killings. Add to this the thousands who suffer domestic violence, or are burnt with acid or kerosene, and the picture that emerges is one of extreme hatred of women (misogyny), violence, and deep-rooted concepts about women being the property of men, to do with as they will.

Think of the pain of young Aasiya in Karachi, just 16, raped by her employer`s son and then burnt when she resisted -- doctors were amazed that she survived as long as she did, for two weeks, with 90 percent burns. The police refused to even register an FIR, until the intervention of rights organisations. In another recent case, Ghazala, a young graduate working in the advertising section of a local newspaper, was taken to Islamabad and raped by the owner-editor who photographed her nude in order to blackmail her into silence... but Ghazala isn`t keeping silent, just as Aasiya refused to. Her family is standing by her (her father is a retired Steel Mills worker, and her mother a principal at a school in Karachi`s Lines area); they have registered an FIR. Dr Shazia isn`t keeping silent either.

The State must support such struggles for women for justice with more than just words or (inadequate) bills on `honour killing`. For Aasiya and others like her, it is too late. But there are hundreds if not thousands of other such cases screaming for justice, accountability, and the rule of law. Until the government takes steps to ensure these basics, all attempts at improving Pakistan`s image abroad will remain a superficial veneer.

ZahraJ,

Going out on a limb here that you`ll deign to interact with me on a topic or two. In this case there is no legal cause for international institutions to jump in and impose themselves on those of a sovereign nation; those mechanisms (which themselves are often ineffectual) are in place to react and respond to war crimes such as genocide. Or are you supporting an illegal action to punish another? Another way international institutions can intervene is if another country declares war on Pakistan because the rapists are not being punished (the lack of justice and basic human rights was one of the ostensible reasons for the current Iraq war). A final way would be for the international community to impose economic/trade sanctions on Pakistan, although these will not affect the upper and middle class fatally, but the economic deprivation will trickle down enough to the lower classes to indirectly cause death and undue suffering (Iraq during the interregnum between the two Gulf wars is again the example, we`ve all heard of Iraqi children dying due to lack of medicines).

Taking a page out of the alleged retard`s (Romair`s) logic, I`m sure that Americans are not really perfect (inspite of popular perception). I`m willing to bet quite a few vital organs that there are many cases where innocent people are languishing in jails, and many criminals are getting off (proverbially) scot free. Yet amazingly, I`ve never heard of Americans clamoring for their cases to be referred to Swedish courts, or demanding that German institutions come in and set theirs` right.

#150 by ZahraJ, tshah and Jamil,

It is not uncommon for people to carry condoms in their wallet or have condoms in their possession. It is a common practice in the US. I had known many men in Pakistan even in the early 80s and the late 70s who carried condoms with them for various reasons. Some were married and some were sexually active and careful.

Carrying condoms does not prove that some one is a serial rapist or this act was premeditated. I would not pay too much attention to that.

Re: # 147
``For starters, people should not refer to rape statistics as retarted logic. They should try to study them. Secondly, the aim should be to empower women and give them access to justice. And thirdly, the aim should be to put some sort of control on relations based on overly sexual desires of males and females``

Romair,
Your first two points are valid and especially the second one needs to be implemented rather than just be highlighted in seminars etc. Your last point however is something that is practically not possible. Maybe if we seriously implement the second point some sort of control may emerge.

#149

Good Point! I was also taken aback to read somewhere on Chowk that the armyman/rapist was carrying a condom. This sounded more like a planned episode and the man in this picture, seemed like a serial rapist vs. a first time offender. Regardless of that, I think he ought to be penalized for the gross misconduct. It`s not a joke to be in the army and lack basic ethics. Probably, the academies/schools training these macho jawans need a complete overhaul of their curriculum - less focus on carrying condoms in the backpocket for evil purposes and more on basic ethics.

Re: # 130

I am certainly serious but I don`t consider myself in a posion to fix responsibility for the crime. For your information the cocerned Jirga has already declared Dr Shazia, the victim, a `Kari`, punishable by death. The most shamefull crime in this case is the cover up. The use of condoms by rapists is however very intriguing. May be this was the victim`s condition.
You cannot know the truth in this Pakland as truth is like a `La houl`` for it.

Romair:
(Irritating & Retarded Logic!)
I simply do not wish to discuss any issue with you. I think you are experiencing some difficulties in comprehending that. Before you start crying like a spoilt baby, I suggest that you change the direction of your post to another interactor.

Thank You!