CJP takes suo moto notice of ‘revenge rape’ in Multan

MULTAN: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar is reported to have taken suo motu notice of the Multan panchayat ‘revenge rape’ case; a report has also been sought from the Punjab inspector general of police.

According to local media, 25 suspects have been arrested including the main accused on Thursday.

A shocking incident took place in Multan’s Muzaffarabad locality where the members of panchayat- a council of elders- ordered the rape of a 16-year-old girl as punishment for a rape allegedly committed by her brother.

Multan City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Younas said 25 suspects have been arrested so far and a search is under way to arrest the remaining accused.

According to the police, a man had complained to the panchayat that his 12-year-old sister had been raped by their cousin. Upon this, the panchayat ordered the complainant to rape the 16-year-old sister of the accused in revenge.

A search was under way for the remaining men including the main accused, who had managed to flee the scene following the incident.

Both cases have been registered at the women crisis centre, as SHO Muzaffarabad Malik Rashid also questioned the authority of the panchayat for ‘ordering such a crime’.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Multan CPO.

"When the first FIR was lodged and investigated we came to know that there was more to the case which was being hidden. When we investigated further and chased the accused during the last 2-3 days, the entire incident was unearthed," said the CPO, according to the Geo News.