FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AS-253-2006
October 17, 2006

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

PAKISTAN: University of Karachi must lodge criminal complaints against attempted rapists

Why are the authorities of the University of Karachi protecting attempted rapists? A July 28 incident, which allegedly involved a number of university staff and members of the Pakistan Rangers stationed on campus, was at first denied outright by the university vice chancellor. After tremendous public pressure, including a series of urgent appeals issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission, the university authorities reluctantly constituted an inquiry committee, which implicated three accused staff and a student but exonerated the rangers.

In fact, long before the committee announced its findings on October 12, the rangers had applied the necessary pressure to escape responsibility. On August 8, the vice chancellor already indicated that direction in which the committee would go by issuing reassurances that the rangers "maintain discipline and security at the campus and do not indulge in any unlawful activity".

Even more remarkable is that since the committee announced its findings, only one of the three accused employees has been terminated from employment, while the other two have suffered only some deduction of pay; the student has been suspended. None have had criminal charges lodged against them. This is despite reports emerging of earlier incidents involving some of the accused at the adjoining Shiekh Ziad Islamic University, where again officials of the Pakistan Rangers allegedly saved them from investigation through threats of dire consequences against the university administration.

Meanwhile, the victim, a law student, has fled from her house together with her family due to alleged intimidation, particularly the Pakistan Rangers, not to lodge a criminal complaint.

Why--having conducted its own inquiry and found that the attempted rape did occur--has the University of Karachi failed to take action directly with the police? Why is its vice chancellor again dragging his feet and allowing the accused persons the time they need to pervert the course of justice and terrorise the victim and her relatives? Why has it not sacked the three implicated staff?

The Asian Human Rights Commission calls upon the University of Karachi to end the impunity that it is affording alleged rapists on its staff and within its campus. It again calls on its vice chancellor to acknowledge the belated findings of the inquiry committee by registering a case with the police and resisting the efforts of the Pakistan Rangers to thwart justice. It calls upon him to see that they are removed from the university at once and irrevocably. Finally, it calls upon the university to accept responsibility for what has happened under its watch, and offer protection and support to the victim and her family until alternative arrangements are properly secured.

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.