PHR CAMPAIGNS

PHR Action Center

Call on Pakistani authorities to properly investigate the rape of Dr. Shazia Khalid

A year after the attack and rape of Dr. Shazia Khalid in her home on state-owned Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) property, Pakistani authorities have repeatedly failed to conduct a full and thorough investigation into her case or bring the perpetrators to justice. Write to the Pakistani authorities to call for a full and thorough investigation into the rape of Dr. Shazia Khalid and prosecution of the individuals in the illegal jirga who called for her death.

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President Pervez Musharraf

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Dear President Musharref,

(Edit Letter Below)

I urge your government to conduct a full and thorough investigation into the case of Dr. Shazia Khalid, who was attacked and raped in her home on state-owned Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) property in Sui, Balochistan, during the night of January 2, 2005.

Physicians for Human Rights, an organization that mobilizes health professionals to advance the health and dignity of all people through actions that promote respect for, protection of, and fulfillment of human rights, has heard that in the early morning after the attack, Dr. Shazia reported the incident to PPL doctors and officials. Instead of conducting a medical examination and contacting the local police, PPL officials kept her sedated for several days. Reportedly, they confiscated Dr. Shazia's bloodstained clothing and did not inform her family until January 5th and prevented her from speaking with local police or a lawyer. Despite having sustained injuries during the attack, she did not undergo a medical examination until January 15.

A criminal investigation into this case was not conducted in a manner consistent with Pakistani law and the perpetrators of this crime have never been brought to justice. Furthermore, I am aware that subsequent to the rape, an illegal jirga in Sindh labeled Dr. Shazia a "kari" and called for the honor killing of both her and her husband. Despite the ruling on April 23, 2004, in which the High Court of Sindh banned tribal jirgas, the Pakistani government has not condemned or prosecuted the individuals who called for the murders of Dr. Shazia and her husband.

Pakistan has officially committed itself to protect the rights of its women. The country is party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which is cited in the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Article 4(c) of that document calls for governments to "exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and, in accordance with national legislation, punish acts of violence against women, whether those acts are perpetrated by the State or by private persons." I urge the Pakistani government to meet its obligations under domestic and international law by mandating a full and fair investigation of Dr. Shazia's rape and prosecuting those who called for her death in the illegal jirga. Justice can be served only when the true perpetrators of these crimes, regardless of their rank within the military, government or society, are discovered, tried and punished.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I look forward to learning of any developments in this important case.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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