7-year-old girl raped at Qurban Lines

By Zainab Khar

LAHORE: Ambreen, 7, was raped and then left at the Qurban Lines near Fortress Stadium in Cantt. Covered in blood, she was found at 3.00pm on May 30, the day after the incident.

After a police investigation, two suspects emerged. One was Ali Bahadar, 18, who worked at a local restaurant. He worked at the restaurant from 4.00pm to 1.00am. He has been arrested, but the other suspect, Shahzad, has not been traced so far.

Ambreen’s mother Parveen Barkat earns a living for her family by doing odd jobs. The family lives near Fortress Stadium.

Ambreen’s maternal grandmother, Karmi Bibi, said, “How can these people be so brutal? She is an innocent girl who was playing under the bridge when they picked her up. When she was found she had blood flowing from her forehead and her eye was badly bruised. She was hysterical and crying and said they had taken her to a dark room and beaten her before forcing themselves on her.”

Parveen Barkat, Ambreen’s mother, filed an FIR on May 30. Locals discovered her daughter on the railway tracks. “We were so worried the entire evening she did not return,” said Karmi Bibi.

The Christian Liberation Federation (CLF) has taken her to the hospital for treatment. She is still there.

“We are not safe. Next time one of our other girls might get raped and we will be as helpless as we are now. Where do we go? The law is not even on our side,” Karmi Bibi said.

Ali Bahadar is in the custody of Race Course police. The case is under the supervision of DSP Amjad Qureshi. Sub-inspector Zaffar at Race Course Police Station, in the presence of Daily Times and representatives of CLAAS said, “Has anyone considered that the girl consented?” However, he had nothing to say when asked how anyone could imagine a 7-year-old consenting to sex. Ali Bahadar has told the police he is innocent. “I was just with Shahzad. He is the one who committed the rape.” Shahzad is believed to have fled the city. According to the police, Shahzad had gone to his village three days before the girl was discovered.

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