KARACHI: Kainat Soomro and her family on Friday ended their hunger strike outside the Karachi Press Club after 54 days.

The 13-year-old gang rape victim demanded that apart from her alleged rapists, who have been taken into custody, their accomplices like the cleric and the doctor at the medico-legal department also be arrested.

While ending the strike, Kainat’s father Ghulam Nabi Soomro appealed to the government that a thorough investigation against the insincere police officials, EDO Health Dr Dhani Baksh and WMLO Dr Sumera, who tried all means to prevent his daughter from obtaining justice, should also be taken to task.

“We have called off the strike temporarily and if the government does not provide speedy justice then I will go to Islamabad and protest,” said the father.

Kainat, a resident of Mehar, was abducted and later raped for three consecutive days by culprits namely Shaban Sheikh, Ahsan alias Nomi, Kaleemullah Thebo and Roshan Thebo during which she was forced to sign a phony Nikahnama which is being used as evidence by Ahsan, who claims to be her husband. He is currently under trial before the Hyderabad court.

On Feb 19, after receiving no support from the law enforcement agencies, the family of 12 was compelled to move to Karachi.

They had been staying in the premises of a marriage lawn earlier, from where they have been recently shifted to an apartment with the help of an NGO. “They have paid our rent for twelve months. We will stay here then and fight until we can but ultimately will return to our village,” said the father, adding that he fears starting a new life back in the village, as the family continues to receive life threats from the influential perpetrators.

Source: The News

Date:4/7/2007