Mukhtar Mai

Mukhtar Mai along with ruling PML MNAs Riaz Fatyana and Kashmala Tariq had a meeting with Shaukat Aziz at the Prime Ministers House wherein she was informed about the re-arrest of the accused.

The four persons were freed last Tuesday despite a decision of the Supreme Court to reconsider their acquittal on the charges of assaulting Mukhtar Mai.

Mai was raped about 30 months ago and 14 persons were tried in the court that had awarded the capital punishment to six of them.

The Prime Minister assured Mukhtar Mai of his governments all-out support to ensure provision of justice at all costs. I am happy with the decision, Mai said after her meeting with the Premier.

Shaukat Aziz said that the government is taking all necessary measures to ensure her safety. He said, provision of justice to every citizen is the duty of the government and it will spare no effort to bring the culprits to justice.

He lauded Mukhtar Mais struggle and the way she bravely fought with circumstances. He also appreciated her efforts to establish a school in her village and said the government will provide the maximum possible assistance needed by her for running the educational institute.

Track on the Situation

The Prime Minister Secretariat issued a statement saying that President Musharraf, whom Mukhtar Mai had urged to intervene into the case, and Shaukat Aziz were both keeping a track on the situation.

An eight-member delegation of civil society representatives including Farzana Bari, Nasreen Azhar, Asma Raoji, Mohsan Babar and others were accompanying Mai during her visit to the PM House.

In-depth

Four men who were sentenced to death for gang-raping Mukhtaran Mai but were freed on bail - triggering an outcry from human rights activists - have been arrested again.

The men were convicted nearly three years ago in a high-profile trial for raping Mukhtaran Mai, 33, on the orders of a village council to punish her family for her young brothers alleged affair with a woman from another family.

The four walked out of jail on Tuesday after a judge granted them bail, following an appeals court decision to overturn their convictions earlier this month - a ruling that angered human rights activists and prompted a mass protest by women in Multan, the nearest city to her remote home village of Meerwala.

Mai on Friday met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad and requested him to order the arrest of the four men, says Kashmala Tariq, a woman lawmaker who accompanied her.

The Supreme Court intervened in the case last week, following a flurry of developments this month. After the appeals court ruling two weeks ago, the Shariat Court had reinstated the mens conviction, saying the appeals court had no jurisdiction to rule on the case.

The four men re-arrested are among six who were convicted in August 2002 of raping Mai. A fifth also had his conviction overturned by the appeals court, but was not granted bail.

The sixth had his sentence reduced by the appeals court from death to life in prison. Another report meanwhile quoted officials as confirming that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz ordered the arrest of four men involved in a high-profile gang-rape case after an appeal by Mai.

I am Happy: Mai

"The Prime Minister ordered the arrest of the accused on my application and they have been re-arrested," Mai told the French news agency after meeting the PM in Islamabad. "I am happy over the decision."

Officials said the four had been arrested on Friday and that an order banning them from leaving the country had already been issued on Thursday. "They have been detained under maintenance of public order (MPO) laws on the request of Mukhtiaran Mai that her life was in danger if the accused were allowed to move freely," said Kashmala Tariq.

"They have been detained for a period of three months," added Ahsan Mahboob, police chief of Muzaffragarh. The Prime Minister has ensured Mai that the government would provide justice to her.

Mai apprised the Prime Minister of her case and appealed for the provision of complete security and justice to her. Shaukat ensured Mai that the culprits would not go free. Mai thanked the Prime Minister, President Musharraf and the Punjab government for their immediate action to arrest the accused. "I believe that Supreme Court will provide justice to me," she said at a news conference later.

The accused are Ghulam Farid Mastoi, Fityiaz Mastoi, Allahditta Mastoi, Faiz Mastoi, Muhammad Ramzan Pachaar, Muhammad Aslam Mastoi, Allahditta Mastoi, Khalil Ahmed, Ghulam Hussein Mastoi, Hazoor Buksh, Rasool Buksh Mastoi, Qasim Mastoi and Nazar Hussein Mastoi.

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