Sir: What kind of ridiculous country are we living in? It is a land where women are ordered to be raped, even gang raped, by men belonging to jirgas or panchayats (tribal courts). Just recently, a 40-year-old divorcee was made bait for a gang rape by a panchayat in southern Punjab because, allegedly, her brother had had an affair with someone. What sort of sick mentality is this whereby people can even think of such atrocities? If a man has an affair, why should a female relative of his be punished in this gruesome manner?One of the first things that must be done to pull this country out of the vortex of darkness is to abolish this traditional system of justice where women are no better than cattle. For that to happen, we need to make our current judicial system better with quick and effective verdicts taking place in proper courts. How long can we live in this medieval abyss?TANYA GHAZIKarachi