Women Democratic Front’s statement on the arrest of the wife of one of the suspect’s in the motorway rape case
Women Democratic Front’s statement on the arrest of the wife of one of the suspect’s in the motorway rape case
On Thursday, the DSP Crime Investigation Agency for Model Town, Lahore, confirmed arresting the wife of one of the suspects in the motorway rape case. The Women Democratic Front strongly condemns this action of the Punjab police and demands the immediate release of the suspect’s wife.
Trying to reach the suspect by arresting his or her family members who have no known connection to the crime is illegal, and has no place in a society that claims to be democratic and follow the rule of law. Not only does it reflect the complete failure of the Punjab police in being able to track the suspect in a legal and professional manner, it shows once again how laws are broken and disregarded by the most powerful institutions in the country, leaving the vulnerable exposed to abuse and denial of their rights.
The arrest also reflects our law enforcement’s belief in the idea of collective punishment, a barbaric colonial legacy that leads to the targeting of innocent people. In fact, this practice was codified into law till as recently as 2018 when the Frontier Crimes Regulations were finally repealed. However, as this arrest of the suspect’s wife shows, the practice of punishing the family members of the accused has neither abated, and nor is it restricted to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Last week, thousands of people across Pakistan took to the streets to condemn the heinous motorway rape and the increasing instances of crimes against women, children and transgender people, crimes which are rooted in violent patriarchy. The arrest of the suspect’s wife is simply another reflection of patriarchal violence targeting the vulnerable and the marginalized, rather than a step towards justice. It saddens us that our demands for justice seem to fallen on deaf ears as instead of addressing the wrong, the institutions responsible for safeguarding our rights have taken yet another step in usurping them.
The Women Democratic Front demands the immediate release of the suspect’s wife, and an immediate end to the abhorrent practice of assigning collective responsibility and punishment.