CAMPAIGN: PAKISTAN: A Christian Woman Was Raped for Four Days; the Rapist Identified Himself as a Senior Officer in the Inter Services Intelligence Agency
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 24-year-old Christian woman was abducted and raped for a period of four days in different cities by a person who identified himself as a serving Major in the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) agency which is the intelligence wing of the Pakistan Army. A First Information Report was filed but the police have been unable to arrest him. After releasing the victim at the Faisalabad, Punjab province, railway station he threatened her that if she told anybody about the rape he would involve her parents in a bomb blast case.
Please send an urgent appeal to the authorities to arrest the rapist and initiate an enquiry into the involvement of an army officer in the abduction and rape of a Christian woman.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Ms. Sehar Naz, aged 24, from Christian Town, Faisalabad, Punjab province, works as a sales officer in the State Life Insurance, a government insurance company. She was going with her area manager and sales manager in their car to attend a conference on 14 April 2011. As the car reached the circuit road near the Serena Hotel crossing a person in a black shirt and trousers stopped the car and introduced himself as Arif Atif Rana, a Major in the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). He was standing with a traffic police official and asked the occupants of the car to show their identity papers. As he received the identity card of Sehar Naz he told the insurance officers that a call has been received by him against Sehar and that he wanted to take her for investigation. The insurance officers tried to prevent this but he threatened to kill them for interfering with his official work.
The insurance officers quickly lodged a police report on the same day at Civil Lines Police Station, Faisalabad, that she was abducted by an army officer who claimed that he was a Major in the ISI. The police lodged the FIR (First Information Report) with number of 454/11, but, as is common, did not pursue the case because of the involvement of the ISI.
Major Rana took her on his scooter to different places and then to his house in Samanabad, Faisalabad. He kept her at that location for two days and then took her to Lahore, the capital of Punjab province and raped her in his custody on each of these four days. On 18 April he dropped her at the Faisalabad railway station and threatened her that if she told anyone about the rape he would arrest her parents in a bomb blast case. He went on to say that it is easy to book Christians in any case.
When she was released her parents and the Pakistan's National Commission for Justice & Peace Faisalabad office took the victim to record her statement before the police, (which was recorded on 19 April) and according to Ms. Naz the rapist was from the ISI and claimed to be of the rank of Major. The police then issued a certificate for a medical examination which proved that she had been sexually assaulted. She again confirmed to the police investigation officer, Assistant Sub Inspector Basheer that Major Atif Arif Rana had kidnapped and raped her at gun point but the police have made no move to arrest him.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send the urgent appeal by clicking blue button and sending faxes to the authorities calling for the prompt action in the case of rape of a Christian woman by a Major in the Inter Service Intelligence agency, the ISI, for four days at gun point while he kept her in illegal detention. Please also urge them to initiate an enquiry into the case. Medical treatment and compensation should be afforded to the victim for her rehabilitation.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Violence against Women and Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment or Treatment calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this appeal, please click here.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: A Christian woman was raped for four days; the rapist identified himself as a senior officer in the Inter Services Intelligence Agency
Name of victim: Miss Sehar Naz, aged 24, resident of Chiristian Town, Faisalabad, Punjab province
Name of alleged perpetrator: Major Atif Arif Rana, resident of Smmanabad, Faisalabad, Punjab Province
Date of incident: 14 April 2011
Place of incident: Circuit Road, Serena Hotel crossing, Faisalabad, Punjab province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the rape and abduction of a Christian woman by a person who claimed that he is Major in the intelligence agency, the ISI. He raped her for four days in two different cities, Lahore, the capital of Punjab province and Faisalabad, Punjab, where he was stationed by the army.
It is very shocking news for me that an army officer used his position to abduct and rape a woman from a religious minority. The war against the terrorism is turning into heinous crimes conducted by the army officials and officers who are using their power to create an atmosphere of silence by using their official position against the minorities who are already living in an atmosphere of threat and intimidation created by the state to appease the Muslim extremist fundamentalists.
The case details are as follows: A Christian woman, Sehar Naz, aged 24, from Christian Town, Faisalabad, Punjab province, working as sales officer in State Life Insurance, a government insurance company, was going with her area manager and sales manager in their car to attend a conference on insurance on 14 April. As the car reached at circuit road near the Serena Hotel crossing a person a man in black shirt and trousers stopped the car and introduced himself as Rana Arif, a Major in Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). He was standing with a traffic police official and asked the occupants of the car to show their identity papers. As he received identity card of the Sehar Naz he told the insurance officers that a call has been received by him against Sehar and that he wanted to take her for investigation. The insurance officers tried to prevent this but he threatened to kill them for interfering with his official work.
The insurance officers quickly lodged a police report on the same day at civil lines police station, Faisalabad, that she was abducted by an army officer who claimed that he was a Major in the ISI. The police lodged the First Information Report (FIR), with number of 454/11, but, as it common, did not pursue the case because of the involvement of the ISI.
Major Rana took her on his scooter to different places and then to his house in Samanabad, Faisalabad. He kept her at that location for two days and then took her to Lahore, the capital of Punjab province and raped her in his custody on each of these four days. On 18 April, he dropped her at Faisalabad railway station and threatened her that if she told anyone about the rape he would arrest her parents in a bomb blast case. He went on to say that it is easy to book Christians in any case.
When she was released her parents and the Pakistan's National Commission for Justice & Peace's Faisalabad office took the victim to record her statement before the police, (which was recorded on 19 April) and according to Ms. Naz the rapist was from the ISI and claimed to be of the rank of Major. The police then issued a certificate for a medical examination which proved that she had been sexually assaulted. She again confirmed to the police investigation officer, assistant Sub Inspector Basheer that Major Atif Arif Rana had kidnapped and raped her at gun point but the police have still not been able to arrest him.
I am appalled to know that police still have not taken any action against the perpetrator because he is an army officer regardless of what rank he presents himself as. This case may set a dangerous precedent as any person can avoid arrest, investigation and punishment by claiming to be an army officer as the police are openly reluctant to take action against any military or intelligence personnel.
I urge you to take immediate action against the perpetrator and the Civil Lines police station, Faisalabad for their involvement in this heinous crime. I also urge you to initiate the enquiry into the matter of the rape of Christian lady by the ISI officer and prosecute him. Please also provide medical treatment and compensation for her ordeal.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: 92-51-9204801-9214171
Fax 92-51-9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk
3. Mr. Raza Rabbani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
4. Mr. Lateef Khosa
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
5. Mr Nasir Mehmood Khosa,
Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
6. Mr. Rana Sana Ullah
Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
7. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
8. Mr. Tariq Saleem
Inspector-General of Police, Punjab
Police Head Office, Lahore, Punjab province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 9921006
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
To send an appeal letter click here.