The case of rape of five girls by personnel of Border Military Police during their visit to Fort Monroe, Dera Ghazi. Khan, is a shocking example of prevalence of criminality and indiscipline among those whose duty it is to provide security to the people. It is reflective also of double standards followed by tribal elders and rural jirgas, who are ever so willing to sanction so-called honour killings in the name of tradition and protect rapists.
The girls, it may be recalled, had gone from Lahore and Bahawalpur to the resort town last week accompanied by a male relative, who is a DG Khan resident. They were stopped at the resort entrance by border military police (BMP) personnel on the pretext of terrorism related suspicion and taken to a BMP station where three members of the force and two others sexually assaulted the young women.
Apparently, the BMP men had expected the victims to disappear quietly next morning for fear of inviting social stigma. But the victims and their male companion insisted on seeking justice. Once again, the BMP personnel misused their authority to force the girls and their relative to sign a statement of reconciliation. Creditably for the victim party, however, they still wouldn't let the heinous crime pass without holding the culprits to account. They lodged a complaint with the BMP Commandant in DG Khan, who after preliminary investigation got the case registered against the five accused. Instead of surrendering, the men fled taking refuge with some tribal elders. In so doing they lent credence to the victims' story. Those men had no reason to flee if the crime hadn't taken place. The BMP men gave in after the Commandant's hectic negotiations with the tribal leaders harbouring them. Two other suspects remained absconding until at least four days after the incident.
Since the case was splashed on TV screens and newspapers pages all across the country, the government machinery also spurred into action. Chief Minister's advisor on women affairs Begum Zakia Shah Nawaz met the girls and assured them that they would get justice. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary appointed the BMP Commandant as inquiry officer. The DCO though is quoted as saying that the administration faced difficulties in determining the girls' identity because they did not possess computerised national identity cards. He asked the media for help with identification. Identifying the rape victims so openly is not a good idea. In fact, the administration's concern ought to be protecting their identity. The focus should be on what happened rather than who the victims might be. The perpetrators of this heinous crime deserve and must be given exemplary punishment.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Pakistan: Fort Monroe rape case
The case of rape of five girls by personnel of Border Military Police during their visit to Fort Monroe, Dera Ghazi. Khan, is a shocking example of prevalence of criminality and indiscipline among those whose duty it is to provide security to the people. It is reflective also of double standards followed by tribal elders and rural jirgas, who are ever so willing to sanction so-called honour killings in the name of tradition and protect rapists.
The girls, it may be recalled, had gone from Lahore and Bahawalpur to the resort town last week accompanied by a male relative, who is a DG Khan resident. They were stopped at the resort entrance by border military police (BMP) personnel on the pretext of terrorism related suspicion and taken to a BMP station where three members of the force and two others sexually assaulted the young women.
Apparently, the BMP men had expected the victims to disappear quietly next morning for fear of inviting social stigma. But the victims and their male companion insisted on seeking justice. Once again, the BMP personnel misused their authority to force the girls and their relative to sign a statement of reconciliation. Creditably for the victim party, however, they still wouldn't let the heinous crime pass without holding the culprits to account. They lodged a complaint with the BMP Commandant in DG Khan, who after preliminary investigation got the case registered against the five accused. Instead of surrendering, the men fled taking refuge with some tribal elders. In so doing they lent credence to the victims' story. Those men had no reason to flee if the crime hadn't taken place. The BMP men gave in after the Commandant's hectic negotiations with the tribal leaders harbouring them. Two other suspects remained absconding until at least four days after the incident.
Since the case was splashed on TV screens and newspapers pages all across the country, the government machinery also spurred into action. Chief Minister's advisor on women affairs Begum Zakia Shah Nawaz met the girls and assured them that they would get justice. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary appointed the BMP Commandant as inquiry officer. The DCO though is quoted as saying that the administration faced difficulties in determining the girls' identity because they did not possess computerised national identity cards. He asked the media for help with identification. Identifying the rape victims so openly is not a good idea. In fact, the administration's concern ought to be protecting their identity. The focus should be on what happened rather than who the victims might be. The perpetrators of this heinous crime deserve and must be given exemplary punishment.
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