Rape victim to set up school

Mukhtaran Bibi, the young woman who was victim of the gang-rape following the verdict of a 'jirga' of village council in Meerwala near Muzzafargarh now hopes to devote her life to setting up a school for girls in her area.

Speaking for the first time to some reporters, Mukhtaran, herself an illiterate, said that she had received a cheque for Rs500,000 sent to her as 'compensation' by the president of Pakistan and she intended to use this many to better the future of girls in her area.

The cheque was given to Mukhtaran Bibi by Minister Dr Attiya Inayatullah who visited the family on Thursday. President Pervez Musharraf is scheduled to meet Mukhtaran Bibi today, when he will travel from Lahore to Meerwala.

Dr Inayatullah reported that the president was "completely horrified" by the incident and the suffering inflicted on the woman.

At least two ministers from Punjab have already visited Meerwala on the orders of the Punjab governor.

Mukhtaran Bibi stated yesterday that she would "ask the president for justice" because if the men who raped her were not punished, she would "be forced to consider suicide".

It may be noted that a 'jirga' ordered Mukhtaran Bibi be raped by four members of the Mastoi tribe as apparent punishment for the actions of her brother.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court, taking a suo moto notice of the incident, also began hearing the case. Senior Punjab police officials, appearing before the court, told the chief justice of Pakistan that the case had been brought to the notice of the police by the victim's family only a week after it took place, and a case had been registered.

Human Rights activists, including prominent lawyer Hina Jilani, maintain that according to their information, police refused to file the FIR (first inquiry report) against the rapists immediately after the incident, when a complaint was made by the victim's father, Ghulam Fareed.

A large number of the activists were present in the court yesterday. Mukhtaran Bibi, who is likely to appear in court, has said the publicity concerning the case had "caused me great shame and anguish."

She said that life had become unbearable for her, but she hoped that becoming involved in "setting up a small school for little girls" would create some purpose of living.

According to social tradition, Mukhtaran Bibi is unlikely to be taken as a wife because of the stigma attached to rape. Due to this, many cases are never reported by the families of victims.

However, Mukhtaran Bibi's father has said he hopes some "well meaning" man who has heard of his daughter's plight, may come forward and marry her.

Some social activists in the area are already said to be "looking into this possibility."

Mukhtaran Bibi has also said she believes that "there should be centres where women like me can turn for justice and understanding." District and police officials in the area have already been suspended while show-cause notices have been served on others.

Our Islamabad Correspondent adds: The Pakistan Supreme Court yesterday admonished the police after being told that the four men who raped the woman were still at large two weeks after the gruesome incident.

Top police officials from Punjab province, where the alleged gang-rape took place on June 22, appeared before a three-judge bench of the court as it opened a hearing in Lahore.

Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmed deplored the police negligence in arresting the accused and directed the officials present a progress report to the court at its next hearing in Islamabad on June 11.