LAHORE: A Christian woman was allegedly thrashed, stripped and then dragged in the street by a family during a scuffle in Sheikhupura district of Punjab earlier this month.



The victim, A*, said that accused Rani Bibi and her daughter Mahjabeen abused her while she was on her way to a market. A scuffle broke out among the women after which Rani called her sons Mubeen and Muneeb, who harassed A publically, tore off her clothes and dragged her in the street.



The Sheikhupura additional district and sessions judge on Friday summoned the investigation officer (IO) of the case after the four accused, including the two women, were granted pre-arrest bails. The judge was surprised to know that in the first FIR, which was registered by the Ferozwala police under Section 354, there was no mention of Section 354A of the Pakistan Penal Code.



Section 354A reads: “Whoever assaults or uses criminal force against any woman and strips her of her clothes and in that condition exposes her to the public shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine”. The judge directed the IO to complete investigation and inform the court why Section 354A was not included in the initial FIR.



A, who runs a saloon, alleged that Rani Bibi and her daughter came to her home on November 15 and asked her to convert to Islam. A heated debate ensued. Later on November 19, A and her son were passing through a street when Mahjabeen abused her on which she got infuriated. The victim said it was only after the intervention of a Christian community member that the police included Section 354A into the FIR.



On the other hand SP Investigation Rana Imtiaz said it was incorrect to say that the woman was dragged naked in the streets. “However, it is correct that she was badly thrashed,” he admitted.



Meanwhile, the accused family claimed that A owed them Rs5,000 which she did not return, and this led to a scuffle between them. (NAME OF THE VICTIM HAS BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY)



Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2014.