Dr. Shazia Khalid:
A female physician who was raped in high security Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) guarded by a special services group of Pakistan’s army is still looking for justice. It is alleged that Captain Hamad, an army
official, as her perpetrators. Pakistan’s President Musharraf himself before the conclusion of the judicial probe exonerated Captain Hamad of the accusations. Dr. Shazia Khalid and her family were harassed and hounded by military’s intelligence agencies and were forced to flee the country. Currently Dr. Shazia Khalid and her husband Khalid Saifullah live in exile in London. Dr. Shazia is actively pursuing to bring justice for her and other women victim of violence in Pakistan.
Mukhtaran Mai:
Mukhtaran Bibi was from the village of Meerwala, in the rural tehsil of Jatoi of the Muzaffargarh District of Pakistan. Mukhtār Mai was the victim of a gang rape as a form of honour revenge, on the orders of a panchayat (tribal council) of the local Mastoi Baloch clan that was richer and more powerful as opposed to her Tatla clan in that region. By custom, rural women are expected to commit suicide after such an event. Instead, she spoke up, and pursued the case, which was picked up by the international media, creating pressure on the Pakistani government and the police to address the rape. The case eventually went to trial, and her rapists were arrested, charged and convicted, until an appeals court overturned the convictions. The Supreme Court of Pakistan later acquitted all except one of the accused. Mukhtar has been waging a legal battle in Pakistan, and, as a direct result, her safety has been constantly in jeopardy. Despite this, she started the Mukhtar Mai Women’s Welfare Organization to help support and education Pakistani women and girls, and is an outspoken advocate for women’s rights.
