UPDATE: Pakistan: Mukhtar Mai’s case scheduled for Wednesday March 4th

Submitted by wluml on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 00:00

Source:

WLUML Networkers

There continues to be political interference in this case and regular serious threats to Ms Mai's life and the lives of family members in an attempt to pressure her to drop the charges against the 13 accused of gang-raping her in 2002.

Since 2005, Mukhtar Mai’s case was pending before the Supreme Court without any hearings being scheduled. On February 11th, 2009, Mukhtar Mai’s case was indefinitely adjourned for “date in office” (which means the Court reschedules the next hearing depending on the availability of the judges on the bench).

Update on: http://wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[157]=x-157-563578

Ms Mai was just informed by the office of her council Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan that her case had been scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th, 2009. This is an astonishing move. Now, just after the Federal Minister for Defence Production Sardar Abdul Qayyum Jatoi pressured Mukhtar Mai to drop the charges against her perpetrators, this hearing is the third within a month.

The Mukhtar Mai Women's Welfare Organization calls upon all supporters of Mukhtar Mai to immediately use whatever influence they can bring to bear to take action on this matter. Please contact the highest levels of the Pakistani government and request their assurance that the judiciary will maintain their independence in the face of alleged political pressure.

Although there is very little time to act, the Welfare Organization believe that every effort can make a difference to ensure the court remains free and fair.

Please see WLUML’s Call for Action:
http://wluml.org/english/actionsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[156]=i-156-563844

Related info/URLs:

Background:

In 2002, Mukhtar Mai of Meerwala village, Tehsil Jatoi, District Muzafargarh in the South Punjab Region of Pakistan was gang-raped on the order of a council of elders (panchayat) as punishment for her 12-year-old brother’s alleged affair with a woman of a higher clan Mastoi.

The accused were apprehended due to public pressure from the local civil society organizations and the international community. Mukhtar Mai’s case was tried in the local Anti-Terrorist Court against thirteen defendants who were involved in pronouncing the verdict of the panchayat or gang raped Mukhtar. The Anti-Terrorist Court gave death sentences to six accused while seven others were released.

In March 2005, the Lahore High Court released six on appeal and the death sentence of one of the accused was changed into life imprisonment. However, due to public pressure, the accused were placed under house arrest by the authorities under Provision of the Maintenance of Public Order.

After the High Court’s verdict, the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Mr. Mohammed Ifftikhar Chaudhary took a Suo Moto action and suspended the decision of the lower court. Mukhtar Mai’s appeal was accepted by the Supreme Court and the Court ordered the re-arrest of all the accused. Thirteen defendants are currently in jail, including the leader Mastoi tribe Mr. Faiz Mastoi, who headed the panchayat. Mukhtar Mai’s case is still pending in the Supreme Court.

Today, Mukhtar Mai inspires people around the world because of her courage and humanitarian efforts. In 2004, TIME magazine listed her as one of the world’s most influential people. The following year, Glamour Magazine named her its “Woman of the Year,” and in 2007 she was awarded the North-South Prize from the EU Council of Europe, which is granted to individuals who have “demonstrated strong and visible commitment, outstanding achievement and clear hope for the future regarding human rights protection.”

A sitting Federal Minister of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sardar Mohammed Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, has pressured Mukhtar Mai to drop charges against the perpetrators who are detained on the charge of gang raping her in 2002 and has threatened to influence the decision of the Supreme Court in favour of her perpetrators.

According to Mukhtar Mai, the Minister called her uncle Ghulam Hussain on 11th December 2008 to his place in Jatoi and passed on a message to Mukhtar that she should drop the charges against the thirteen accused of the Mastoi tribe who were involved either in the verdict against Mukhtar or gang raped her. The Minister said that if she does not comply, he and his associates will not let the Supreme Court’s decision go in favour of Mukhtar.

The Minister’s message may be interpreted as an indirect threat to the life of Mukhtar Mai and Mukhtar Mai’s friends and family fear that anything could happen and anyone can be used against Mukhtar, including extremists, outlaws, or the intelligence agencies. Due to the Minister’s comments, it may be inferred that the Mastoi have political influence of sufficient weight to bring pressure to bear on the supreme court via establishment and political figures.