Pakistan supreme court orders rearrest of gang rape accused
ISLAMABAD, Tuesday (AFP)
Pakistan's Supreme Court Tuesday ordered the arrest of five men while
it hears an appeal against their acquittals for gang raping a woman on
the orders of a village council.
The decision is the latest twist in the three-year legal saga of
victim Mukhtaran Mai, whose rape and subsequent treatment at the hands
of Pakistan's justice system and government have sparked international
outrage.
"I am very happy. I am feeling highly satisfied," Mai said as she
embraced women's rights activists who came to greet her.
Mai, 33, launched an appeal on Monday against the acquittals of the
five men, who had been sentenced to death for the June 2002 attack.
The men's convictions were overturned in March but they were quickly
rearrested on the orders of the government.
They were then freed again earlier this month by the Lahore High
Court.
"Non-bailable warrants of arrest of the respondents... are issued,"
Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said.
"The inspector general of Punjab police is directed to arrest them
and hand them over to judicial custody, pending final disposal of the
appeals."
He added: "They should be treated as under trial prisoners."
Pakistan's attorney general had called for the men's arrest earlier
Tuesday. |