Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the gang rape and incessant mental and physical torture being meted to a poor woman, Nasira Parveen. Her rapists, who have brought misery to the lives of her whole family, have tormented her for the past 2 years. The Police and lower Judiciary have colluded with Nasira’s tormentors to deny her justice. The police continue to pressure Nasira and her family to take back the complaint. The case has been allowed to drag on, with no redress in sight. Depressed by the injustice, Parveen has tried to commit suicide twice. This is another example of how the Pakistan Judiciary fails victims, especially women.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to information received from Star Welfare Organisation, Sargodha, Nasira Parveen, 42, wife of Muhammud Amjad and a mother of five children, lives in Sahiwal District, Chechawatni. She is the owner of a small bangle shop. She has suffered gang rape on several occasions. Her shop has been set on fire. And, she has been tortured during illegal custody.
Nasira’s documentation states that on 10 June 2010, Shahid Nazeer, Station House Officer of Police Station Kasowal came to her shop enquiring about a drug cartel operating nearby. Although Parveen refused to cooperate with the police, the drug dealer Nadeem Maseh was subsequently apprehended. Upon bail, Nadeem and his companions Ramzan (alias Sabba), Goga (son of M. Anwar), Waseem (son of Rasheed Ahmad), set her shop on fire.
The Village Panchayat (Local Arbitration Council) ordered Nadeem to pay Rupees 400,000 to Parveen in lieu of damage caused to her shop. That same night, Nadeem along with his accomplice, entered Parveen’s house, where they gang raped her. When she tried to register a First Information Report (FIR) at the Police Station, the Station House Officer (SHO), in connivance with the culprits, registered a case of Zinna (rape by consent) against her. She was arrested and thereafter subjected to severe beating and sexual abuse by the police.
On 25 March 2014, Ashrif Bhatti, the SHO of Kasowal, raided the house of Ramzan alias Sabbato, and tried to arrest him in lieu of the FIR for gang rape filed by Nasira. The inhabitants of the house attacked the raiding party. This helped Ramzan escape the police cordon. Ramzan’s mother, Ms. Bashiran Bibi filed a frivolous case in the Multan High Court against six police officers. Ms. Nasira Parveen and three of her family members were also named in the FIR.
In the FIR, Bashira falsely charged Parveen and three of her family members, for entering her house and ransacking Bashira’s property. Following the charge, the SHO Ashrif Bhatti was transferred to another district. The new SHO Rana Asif did an about turn: he exonerated the police officers, naming Parveen as the culprit in the FIR.
On 28 April 2014, when Parveen was on her way back from the court after the case proceedings, she was tortured and harassed by the rapists, who demanded that she should not appear in court and must not seek legal reprisal against them. They threatened to kill her if she proceeded with the court case. Upon receiving a complaint of this threat, Syed Khuram Ali Bukhari, District Police Officer (DPO), Sahiwal, took action and ordered the SHO of City Police Station, Chichawatni, to arrest the perpetrators and register an FIR. Even though the culprits were arrested, Assistant Sub inspector City Police Station Arif Butt released them after taking a big bribe.
On 4 June 2014 one of the prime witnesses in Parveen’s rape case, Maqsood Ahmad, was kidnapped by Nadeem and his henchmen; Ahmad was by viciously tortured; they shaved his head and urinated in his mouth to force him to take back his statement in court.
The SHO Shahid Nazir also roughed up Nasira’s son. According to Nasira, the SHO bluntly told her that unless she sleeps with him he would not catch the culprits.
This is not the full extent of the torture that she had to endure, On 4 April 2015, the perpetrators once again entered Parveen’s home; they pinned her down and inserted chili powder into her private parts. Again they threatened her that he should take back the case or face dire consequences for herself and her children.
On 23 May 2015, the Panchayat declared the attempt to coordinate and mediate for both parties, for the resolution of all matters. In the front of the Panchayat, the alleged perpetrators – Mr. Nadeem Maseh, Mr. Ramzan, and Mr. Shabir – acknowledged that they burned the Parveen’s shop. Also, five alleged perpetrators – Mr. Ramzan, Mr. Waseem, Mr. Nadeem, Mr. Shabir, and Mr. Jameel – have also acknowledged that they gang raped Nasira Parveen. Their acknowledgment was recorded via affidavits.
The panchayat warned the men never to harass Parveen or any members of family again, otherwise they would have to pay Rs. 2,000,000 as penalty to Parveen. However, the intervention of the village elders has so far proved futile, as the rapists have started harassing her again.
The police have continued their atrocities as well. In violation of court orders, directing the police to arrest the alleged perpetrators, SHO’s have been harassing and threatening Parveen. On 15 November 2015, SHO Shahid Bhuta raided Parveen’s house. The physical assault by the SHO resulted in a broken finger for Parveen; but the SHO, in connivance with a medico legal officer, covered up the injury as accidental.
Implicated in five criminal cases, Nasira Parveen had to sell off her shop, her only means of livelihood, to pay the lawyer’s fee and transportation cost to appear in court.
On 7 December 2015, Nasira Parveen took shelter at Hawa Shelter Home, Sargodha, for the protection of her life. Depressed by the lack of justice, Parveen has tried to commit suicide twice, feeling that her life is ruined. She deplores the fact that the very people who are tasked to protect her have been robbing her off her dignity and basic human rights.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities calling upon them to provide justice to Nasira Parveen, and to prosecute the police officials of the concerned police stations and the perpetrators. She must be compensated for the loss she has suffered at the hands of the police officials and drug dealers.
Please urge them to institute an independent body, constituting of reputed police officers, to investigate her case and immediately quash all frivolous cases filed against her in different districts of Punjab Province. A case of gang rape must be filed against all the involved persons, including police officials including SHOs Shahid Nazir and Arif Bhatti who have abetted the drug dealers.
The AHRC will be writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Violence Against Women calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
PAKISTAN: Woman suffers rape, torture, and cruelty for two years and counting
Name of Victim:
1.Miss Nasira Parveen wife of Muhammad Amjad, resident of Borah Road, Iqbal Nagar Tehsil, Checha Watni, District Sahiwal, Punjab
2. Muhammad Usman, 22 years old
3. Muhammad Imran, 19 years old
4. Muhammad Zeshan, 17 years old
5. Natasha Amjad, 9 years old
6. Muhammad Umar, 4 years old
7. Muhammad Amjad
8. Maqsood Ahmad, son of Jahngeer, Resident of G.T. Road, Iqbal Nagar, Tehsil Checha Watni, Sehwal, Punjab
Names of Alleged Perpetrators:
1. Sub Inspector Arif Bhatti, former SHO of Kasowal Police Station, Sahiwal, Punjab
2. Sub Inspector Shahid Nazeer, SHO of Kasowal Police Station, Sahiwal, Punjab
3. Mr. Shabbir Goga, son of Muhammad Anwar
4. Mr. Jameel Hussain, son of Nazeer Ahmed
5. Mr. Nadeem Maseh, son of Anwar Maseh
6. Mr. Waseem Dogar, son of Rasheed Garh
7. Mr. Ramzan alias Sabba, son of Lal deen
8. Miss Parveen urf Babli, wife of Shabbir urf Goga
9. Mr. Muhammad Javeed, son of Lal deen
Date of incident: 22 April 2013 to present
Place of incident: Borah Road, Iqbal Nagar Tehsil, Checha Watni, District Sahiwal, Punjab
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the gang rape and the incessant mental and physical torture being meted to a poor woman. Her tormentors and the dysfunctional justice system have made her life hell and brought misery to the whole family for over two years now.
I am appalled to know that the victim Nasira Parveen has suffered unimaginable torture at the hands of her rapists. She continued to suffer due to the collusion and corruption of local police officials, who have been pressurizing Nasira and her family to take back her complaints. Nasira’s case has been dragging on for years and yet there is no redress in sight. The lower judiciary and the police is also working on the behest of the perpetrators, and refuse to provide her redress. Her case is a classic example of how the Judiciary fails victims, especially women victims in Pakistan. Depressed by the lack of justice, Parveen has tried to commit suicide twice, feeling that her life is ruined.
According to information received from Star Welfare Organisation, Sargodha, Nasira Parveen, 42, wife of Muhammud Amjad and a mother of five children, lives in Sahiwal District, Chechawatni. She is the owner of a small bangle shop. She has suffered gang rape on several occasions. Her shop has been set on fire. And, she has been tortured during illegal custody.
Nasira’s documentation states that on 10 June 2010, Shahid Nazeer, Station House Officer of Police Station Kasowal came to her shop enquiring about a drug cartel operating nearby. Although Parveen refused to cooperate with the police, the drug dealer Nadeem Maseh was subsequently apprehended. Upon bail, Nadeem and his companions Ramzan (alias Sabba), Goga (son of M. Anwar), Waseem (son of Rasheed Ahmad), set her shop on fire.
It is shocking for me that the Village Panchayat (Local Arbitration Council) ordered Nadeem to pay Rupees 400,000 to Parveen in lieu of damage caused to her shop. That same night, Nadeem along with his accomplice, entered Parveen’s house, where they gang raped her. When she tried to register a First Information Report (FIR) at the Police Station, the Station House Officer (SHO), in connivance with the culprits, registered a case of Zinna (rape by consent) against her. She was arrested and thereafter subjected to severe beating and sexual abuse by the police.
On 25 March 2014, Ashrif Bhatti, the SHO of Kasowal, raided the house of Ramzan alias Sabbato, and tried to arrest him in lieu of the FIR for gang rape filed by Nasira. The inhabitants of the house attacked the raiding party. This helped Ramzan escape the police cordon. Ramzan’s mother, Ms. Bashiran Bibi filed a frivolous case in the Multan High Court against six police officers. Ms. Nasira Parveen and three of her family members were also named in the FIR.
In the FIR, Bashira falsely charged Parveen and three of her family members, for entering her house and ransacking Bashira’s property. Following the charge, the SHO Ashrif Bhatti was transferred to another district. The new SHO Rana Asif did an about turn: he exonerated the police officers, naming Parveen as the culprit in the FIR.
I am outraged that on 28 April 2014, when Parveen was on her way back from the court after the case proceedings, she was tortured and harassed by the rapists, who demanded that she should not appear in court and must not seek legal reprisal against them. They threatened to kill her if she proceeded with the court case. Upon receiving a complaint of this threat, Syed Khuram Ali Bukhari, District Police Officer (DPO), Sahiwal, took action and ordered the SHO of City Police Station, Chichawatni, to arrest the perpetrators and register an FIR. Even though the culprits were arrested, Assistant Sub inspector City Police Station Arif Butt released them after taking a big bribe.
On 4 June 2014 one of the prime witnesses in Parveen’s rape case, Maqsood Ahmad, was kidnapped by Nadeem and his henchmen; Ahmad was by viciously tortured; they shaved his head and urinated in his mouth to force him to take back his statement in court.
The SHO Shahid Nazir also roughed up Nasira’s son. According to Nasira, the SHO bluntly told her that unless she sleeps with him he would not catch the culprits.
This is not the full extent of the torture that she had to endure, On 4 April 2015, the perpetrators once again entered Parveen’s home; they pinned her down and inserted chili powder into her private parts. Again they threatened her that he should take back the case or face dire consequences for herself and her children.
On 23 May 2015, the Panchayat declared the attempt to coordinate and mediate for both parties, for the resolution of all matters. In the front of the Panchayat, the alleged perpetrators – Mr. Nadeem Maseh, Mr. Ramzan, and Mr. Shabir – acknowledged that they burned the Parveen’s shop. Also, five alleged perpetrators – Mr. Ramzan, Mr. Waseem, Mr. Nadeem, Mr. Shabir, and Mr. Jameel – have also acknowledged that they gang raped Nasira Parveen. Their acknowledgment was recorded via affidavits.
The panchayat warned the men never to harass Parveen or any members of family again, otherwise they would have to pay Rs. 2,000,000 as penalty to Parveen. However, the intervention of the village elders has so far proved futile, as the rapists have started harassing her again.
The police have continued their atrocities as well. In violation of court orders, directing the police to arrest the alleged perpetrators, SHO’s have been harassing and threatening Parveen. On 15 November 2015, SHO Shahid Bhuta raided Parveen’s house. The physical assault by the SHO resulted in a broken finger for Parveen; but the SHO, in connivance with a medico legal officer, covered up the injury as accidental.
Implicated in five criminal cases, Nasira Parveen had to sell off her shop, her only means of livelihood, to pay the lawyer’s fee and transportation cost to appear in court.
On 7 December 2015, Nasira Parveen took shelter at Hawa Shelter Home, Sargodha, for the protection of her life. Depressed by the lack of justice, Parveen has tried to commit suicide twice, feeling that her life is ruined. She deplores the fact that the very people who are tasked to protect her have been robbing her off her dignity and basic human rights.
I therefore, urge you to provide justice to Nasira Parveen, and to prosecute the police officials of the concerned police stations and the perpetrators. She must be compensated for the loss she has suffered at the hands of the police officials and drug dealers.
I also urge you to institute an independent body, constituting of reputed police officers, to investigate her case and immediately quash all frivolous cases filed against her in different districts of Punjab Province. A case of gang rape must be filed against all the involved persons, including police officials including SHOs Shahid Nazir and Arif Bhatti who have abetted the drug dealers.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1.Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2.Federal Minister of Law and Human Rights
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk
3.Mr. Rafiq Rajwana
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
4.Mr. Chief Justice of Punjab Province
Lahore High Court
Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 42 99212951-66
Fax: +92 42 99212279
Email: webmasterlhc@lhc.gov.pk
5.Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister
Government of Punjab
Province
Chief Minister
Secretariat
5-Club Road
GOR-I, Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk
6.Mr. Justice Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
7.Mr. Rana Sana Ullah Khan
Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
