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SC issues non-bailable arrest warrants of Mai's accused assaulters

29 June, 2005

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ISLAMABAD, June 29(Online): The Supreme Court on Tuesday annulled the decision of Lahore High Court's Multan bench decision in Mukhtaran Mai rape case and issued non bailable arrest warrants for all 13 accused.

The Apex Court Bench comprised of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Rana Bhagwan Das and Justice Saeed Al Ashad.

Mukhtaran Mai whose plight attracted international attention was repeatedly assaulted on orders of village council of Meerawala Jatoi in the district of Multan in June 2002. She was punished for her brother's alleged affair with a woman of an influential tribe.

Attorney General of Pakistan Makhdoom Ali Khan said, the apex court is entitled to issue arrest warrants for the accused while the Federal Shariat Court has no authority to take up the matter, as it is beyond its jurisdiction.

Mukhtaran Mai counsel Aitzaz Ahsan argued with references about rights of Women in Supreme Court of Canada and US saying her client was assaulted on orders of village council and Lahore Courts decision was not on merit.

Malik Salim advocate represented the accused.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry gave away his ruling issuing arrest warrants of all 13 accused of Mukhtaran Mai rape case. One accused Abdul Khaliq is already in police custody.

Supreme Court directed Inspector General Punjab to take all the accused into custody and they will remain in custody until the decision is reached.

The Full bench of the Supreme Court allowed hearing of all connected appeals of Mukhataran Mai rape case and prorogued the hearing.

Later on talking to newsmen much elated Mukhtaran Mai said she expected justice from Supreme Court and that's what she got.

"I am thankful to Almighty Allah who made this possible. This is a historic decision of the Apex court, which revealed it upon the world that you too get justice in Pakistan," she added.

Responding to a query she said, "I have got my passport back and I have got invitations from several countries to visit but so far I have not applied for any visa as I have no intent of going abroad."

"I am very happy living in Pakistan," she maintained.

She said she has got police protection and her two schools are running quite successfully how she could leave the country in these circumstances.

"This is the happiest day of my life and I can't find words to express my feelings. It could not have been possible for me if NGOs particularly Mr Aitzaz Ahsan who stood by me through thick and thin," she remarked.

End.

Reader Comments:

Thank you Allah / Thank you God

Finally...a court of law that is just that. Ruling against the rapists in this case is a victory for woman worldwide.
What happend to Mukhtaran Mai was inexcusable, period.
Thank you Allah, thank you God for your kindness in directing this court to a right and sound decision.

Drew O'Brien, Pakistan - 29 June, 2005

MUKHTAR MAI TAKE SENSE - PART ONE

Thousands of letters and articles have appeared on Mukhtar Mai case. Tune of 95% is the same, in fashion, condemning the Government. The most and the only sensible came a letter from one Dr. Inayatullah of Islamabad on 6 July 2005 in Daily DAWN. Reading of it showed Dr. Inayatullah must be a real community and country loving real educated person.

What happened with Mukhtar Mai is a shame, a national shame. It is my earnest pray ALLAH may keep every one of us safe from such
happening. The courage shown by an illiterate victim has no words to praise. But is the case being now handled by Mai and his supporters or writers in the best interest of her, the women folk and the country?

I have personally seen noble Edhi while he had a small clinic-cum-office in Kharadar. He was too simple at that time. When I say “simple” it does not mean wearing simple clothes. He was real simple. Edhi of that fifties and sixties would never had cared to attend to posh clubs like Gymkhanas, addressing gathering elite gathering, giving TV interviews, facing TV cameras. All these glammares one may admit or not start making a human being realising “his importance”. After the gruesome murder of Hakim Saeed the Edhi stated that he had a list of about 100 persons who are the target of terrorism and if those people (who) did not stop he would leave Pakistan and go to London. Sometime he threatens he would shift to India. In case if duty on his ambulances is imposed he warns he would close his ambulance service and like Mukhtar Mai's supporters his supporters also start crying over government. No one like Dr. Inayatullah talks sense that Edhi should not take himself above others even if he is doing a noble job. Nobody take the courage to advise that Edhi should adopt a right approach namely first apply/request Government for import of duty free ambulances and when permission is granted then import. He imports first and wish duty free clearance as a right. The Edhi of fifties and sixties would never have done this. And this is all because of his publicity. Same is happening with innocent Mukhtaran Mai. One can see her style, her way of sitting in car, her coming out of SC which will show an invisible change that her so called professional supporters and NGOs have taken her simple innocence. She is a future politician and like all other politicians.

Shahnaz, Pakistan - 11 July, 2005

MUKHTAR MAI TAKE SENSE - PART TWO

Dr. Inayatullah in his letter saying that she showed heights of courage and altruism to which she is now beckon advises her to perform another act. – the act of forgiving her tormentors. He says if such forgiveness if it was given at a time when she was weak and lonely might have produced only limited effect. But now since her inner strength is manifest, have won a significant and legal moral battle, thousands are with her, it would be true value of her forgiveness. This is really a very nice advice having far reaching affects. But can any one think of such a happening when those from within the country and abroad are trying to en-cash this incident would let her accept such a real advice?

There is another thing which has started though but unnoticed. The way the politicians, NGOs and foreign media has taken up this case it appears as if it is the world's first ever case. I did not see the same NGO and today's lady politicians visiting Nawab Pur when similar incident happened there a more than one family ladies were roamed naked in the bazzar. I am afraid to get this cheap fame, easy pouring of money from now onward there would a lot of true or wrong claims of gang rape just to harass the Government. The day the US spokesman was raping Pakistan on human rights of rape victim for not allowing her to go to USA, the same issue of the newspapers were carrying big headlines “Fifty children raped every day in South Africa”. I did not see any condemnation by any of our NGOs or Asma Jilani on it.

Mukhtaran will do wise accepting Dr. Inayatullah's suggestion. She is already more than successful in drawing the conscious of people and authorities on this episode. If she gets her tormentors hanged what would happen? The same NGOs which today are marching with her, for their motives would start raising slogans against death sentence terming it as against human dignity. If they are punished under Islamic Laws there would an uproar terming Islamic laws as barbaric. If they are prisoned for life the same NGOs would be shouting unfair trials. It is there wise if she restricts herself to her own area, enlighten the area with her schools giving good education to tomorrow's citizens and raising women awareness. Mai must remember she would not remain for long “center” of attraction for these NGOs and so called human rights activists presently surrounding her. Tomorrow they would find a new victim and turn their cameras to that side forgetting Mai. Mai is only valuable for them till her sufferings are not encashed by those surrounding her today.

Shahnaz, Pakistan - 11 July, 2005

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