I was amazed to read that the Chief Justice of Pakistan has taken suo moto notice over the incident of self-immolation of a rape victim in Punjab, who later died of severe burns. Not long ago, Chief Justice also took notice of a 40-year-old woman, who was gang-raped on the order of a jirga (an illegal form of court that works on tribal values). Though some may consider such ‘suo moto’ notices quite timely, I wonder what good they do for the victims? Will the CJ’ taking notice bring back the dead teenager or the self respect of the 40 year old gang raped woman?
It was our Supreme Court which upheld Lahore High Court’s judgment to release five of the six accused of raping, now an icon women rights activist, Mukhtaran Bibi, in 2011. Sixth man' death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. If Supreme Court has already set the precedent in such cases, then what's the use of such ‘suo moto’ notices?
I also fail to see any suo moto action being taken against a Karachi court judge who acquainted a rapist after 5-year long painful trial. These rapists were not only identified in the 'identity parade' but were also proved through DNA tests. The honorable judge threw the case out on the lack of primary evidence; there were no four (4) male witnesses! Why did our honourable Supreme Court not come into action to stop such cruel treatment of rape victims in the name of religious and tribal values which our Prophet () was a religion for all times? Our courts need to first put their own house in order, otherwise such suo moto notices are no more than a propaganda.
MASOOD KHAN,
Saudi Arab, March 17.