The Rapist Are Not Being Released Options

[sobank]

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html



MUZAFFARGARH: The additional sessions judge here on Saturday refused to release the Mastois a day after a review board of the Lahore High Court ordered their release in Mukhtaran Mai rape case.

The judge sent 13 Mastois back to the Muzaffargarh district jail in the afternoon after they could not furnish surety bonds worth Rs 50,000 for each of them, in keeping with the decision of the review board comprising Justice Mian Najmuzzaman, Justice Shaikh Abdul Rashid and Justice M Bilal Khan.

The police produced them before the sessions court on Saturday after completion of their 90-day detention.

The review board had rejected the Punjab government’s plea for extension of the detention period. Eight of them — Hazoor Bakhsh, Rasul Bakhsh, Qasim, M Aslam, Allah Ditta, Nazir Hussain, Ghulam Hussain and Khalid Ahmed — were detained on March 13, 2005, four of them — Allah Ditta, Ghulam Fareed, M Ramzan and Faiz Bakhsh — on March 18 and one Fayyaz Hussain Mastoi on March 28, 2005.

The review board of the Lahore High Court denied the government request for a three-month extension. It was not clear when they might be freed, although presumably the government can hold them at least until the original order expires. Mai says she will appeal the decision.

The Mai on Saturday also asked the government to lift restrictions on her movement. The Mai said she had suddenly been included without explanation on a government list of people who cannot leave Pakistan.

"Now, police deployed at my home for my protection are not allowing me to go anywhere," the Mai said. "I demand that all restrictions on my movement be lifted so that I could travel to Islamabad to meet with my lawyer," she said.

On the other hand, the federal government would ensure that the Mai’s name is removed from the ECL after the US Embassy intervened. Sources confirmed that the American embassy did intervene, but it was not clear whether her name had been struck off the ECL. No Interior Ministry official was available for comment.

The Mai’s lawyer in Multan, Ramzan Khalid Joiya, said her name had not been dropped from the ECL until Saturday afternoon. He demanded that the Mai be allowed to move wherever she wanted to, under the government’s protection. "At present she appears to be under house arrest," Joiya said.

The Mai said she wanted to go to Lahore to meet her lawyer but was not allowed to do so by the police. "Instead they have cordoned off my house under the garb of security," she said, adding she felt helpless and imprisoned.

Acting Muzaffargarh DPO, SDPO Head Quarter Ijaz Hussain Baluch said the police had tightened the Mai’s security and would not allow her to leave home. Asked why, he said, "Who are you to ask this question and why should I tell you."

APP adds from Islamabad: Adviser to Prime Minister, Nilofer Bakhtiar on Saturday said the government would use all avenues to provide justice to Mukhtaran Mai.

"Our legal experts are viewing the case and planning to file another suit in the higher court," she said while expressing reaction on Mai Mukhtaran’s case.

Commenting on the judgment of the high court, she said she respected the court decision but reserved the right to appeal in the higher court. "We will file a suit in the higher court and are working for this with our legal experts," she said, adding that she was constantly in touch with the authorities regarding the case."