Dr. Shazia Khalid was raped on the night of January 2, 2005, allegedly by an army officer, and promptly reported the incident to PPL doctors and officials. However, instead of conducting a medical examination and contacting the local police, Dr. Khalid states that she was drugged and prevented from talking to local police, lawyers, or family members for several days. Despite having sustained injuries during the attack, she did not undergo a medical examination until January 15. In addition, all evidence of the crime, including her bloodstained clothing, was confiscated.

Following the rape, an illegal jirga (tribal council) met in the region of Sindh, and, labeling Dr. Khalid a "Kari," 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. Fear of persecution and the Pakistani authorities' inability to protect the couple led them to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, which has recently been granted.