WUNRN
Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN - JOURNALISTS THREATENED
FOR REPORTING
RAPE OF 6-YEAR-OLD HINDU POOR,
MINORITY GIRL
December 7, 2012 - In the case of the rape of the six-year-old Hindu girl, Vijanti Meghwar, a student of class one, the perpetrators have threatened the journalists with death for reporting the follow up of the case. The inhuman and tragic incident took place on December 4, 2012 in Ghulam Nabi Shah village of Umer Kot district, Sindh province, a very remote and backward desert area along the Indian border. Vijanti a resident of Meghwar Mohalla Ghulam Nabi Shah, Taluka Pithoro District Umerkot was raped and tortured. She was found unconscious lying in a street. Vejanti belongs to a poor family and the Meghwar community (Meghwar is among the low/schedule caste of the Hindus).
The two prominent journalists of the area, Mr. Arbab Bheel of Dharti TV and Mr. Mushtaq Qamber of Daily Sindh Express, have been threatened by the main accused, Mr. Muhammad Mangrio, the brother-in-law of former Town Nazim (chairman) of Tehsil and his nephew Mr. Mashooq Mangrio, who told them over the telephone and conveyed through their henchmen that if they come to the place, the Ghulam Nabi Village, for further reporting they would be killed.
The Superintendent of Police of
the area, Mr. Riaz Soomro, the brother of the provincial law minister, Mr. Ayaz
Soomro, has refused to help the journalists and is providing protection to the
perpetrator and his henchmen as they are the political workers of PML-F, who
has very close links with the military and its head is a spiritual leader, Pir
Saheb Pagaro, who is the most powerful personality of the province and has
armed groups.
It is shameful that the President
of Pakistan, Mr Asif Zardari has taken notice of the case from the very day of
the incident. However, the provincial authorities have ignored the orders of
the president for their political expediency to obtain benefits out of the
case. The chairman of the ruling party, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto has also condemned
the persecution of religious minorities in