Journalists threatened for reporting rape

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 December 2012

A six-year-old Hindu girl was raped in Sindh, leading to threats against journalists covering the case. Authorities are accused of protecting the perpetrators.

Summary

KARACHI: The perpetrators of a six-year-old Hindu girl’s rape in Sindh have threatened journalists with death for reporting the follow-up of the case, Asian Human Rights Commissionsaid in a post on its website.

Vijanti Meghwar, a student of class one, and a resident of Meghwar Mohalla Ghulam Nabi Shah Village, Taluka Pithoro District Umerkot was raped and tortured on December 4. She was found lying unconscious in a street.

She belongs to a poor family and the Meghwar community (is among the low/schedule caste of the Hindus).

Two prominent journalists of the area - Arbab Bheel of Dharti TV and Mushtaq Qamber of Daily Sindh Express, have been threatened by the main accused, Muhammad Mangrio, the brother-in-law of former town nazim and his nephew Mashooq Mangrio.

According to the AHRC post, the accused told journalists on the phone and also through their henchmen not to come to Ghulam Nabi Village for further reporting or they would be killed.

The Superintendent of Police, Riaz Soomro, the brother of the provincial law minister, Ayaz Soomro, has refused to help the journalists and is providing protection to the perpetrators, the AHRC said.

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KEY POINTS:

• A six-year-old Hindu girl was raped and found unconscious in Sindh.
• Journalists covering the case received death threats from the accused's family.
• Local police officials are reportedly protecting the perpetrators.
• The case highlights serious concerns about press freedom in Pakistan.
• Human rights advocates are calling for action against the intimidation of journalists.