ATTENTION Karachi activists - Father Daughter Incest Case

A gory picture episode has surfaced again to test our social and moral values or perhaps our overall humnitarian prisms. I wounder how many get reported and if at all how many ends up seeing the light of justice?

Dr Rakhshinda Parveen of SACHET forwarded me this letter letter which i thought should be circulated amongst civil society for a civil response.



Dear Members come of the Civil Society,

WAR requests civil society support in father-daughter incest case. Bail application set for 27th September 2012, 9.30 am, court of 1st ADJ South.

Last week, WAR was approached by Zeenat*, a resident of Defense Housing Authority Karachi, and a mother of four children. Zeenat told WAR that on 19thSeptember 2012 she was informed by her 14-year old daughter Mahjabeen*, that herfather had been sexually molesting her for a period of two years and that on the 16thof September 2012 he sodomized her. Consequently, a medico-legal examination was conducted on the 18th of September, and FIR (456/2012) lodged by Mahjabeen on 20th September 2012.



The matter was set for S164 statements in the Magistrate’s Court, Karachi, on the 26thof September. The same morning WAR’s lawyer was notified by the Investigating Officer (IO)that a bail application had also been enrolled. When WAR’s team arrived at the city court, they were faced by the accused’s legal team, which consisted of Adv. Habib-ur-Rehman (ex-Principal SM Law College) and other senior advocates. The accused and his family being influential people are using all their resources to mount pressure on the prosecution and investigating officers, and will attempt to sabotage this case in any possible way. The accused’s family members also tried to intimidate the complainant’s mother, and publicly ravished her character in court; saying that she is a fashion designer of bad moral character.



The bail application (No. 1126/2012) in the case of State v Zafar Khan Rana, has now been adjourned to the 27th of September 2012, 9.30 am, in the first court of ADJ South. WAR's Advocate Asia Muneer who is handling the case will be present, and may be contacted on 0321 375 2281. For any other logistical queries, please contact Rukhsana Siddiqui on 0321 827 0073.



WAR calls out to civil society members to once again stand in solidarity with us at this crucial stage in the trial process and be present for the bail application, at 9.30 am.



As always, we count on your support to bring justice to survivors of sexual violence.



Sincerely,



--

Sanaa Rasheed
Cordinator
War Against Rape (WAR), Karachi.
Phone: (+92) 0213 5373008
info@war.org.pk,waragainstrape.khi@gmail.com