Sexually assaulted special girl from Ghizer dies after giving birth

GILGIT: In a heart-wrenching incident, a 13-year-old rape victim with Down syndrome from Yasin Valley in the Ghizer district has passed away after giving birth to a stillborn baby at the Provincial Headquarters Hospital in Gilgit.

The case, which has shocked the local community, was confirmed by the Senior District Police Officer (SDPO) Ghizer, Raja Amir Wali. According to the SDPO, the police were alerted to the tragic situation when it was reported that the young girl, who had been sexually assaulted, had died following the delivery of a stillborn baby.

SDPO Wali, who is personally overseeing the investigation, stated that the Yasin Station Head Officer and a police team were dispatched to Gilgit to probe the case further.

Upon their arrival in Gilgit, the police team discovered that the stillborn baby had already been buried in a local graveyard, while the young girl was fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Despite their efforts, the girl succumbed to her condition on Wednesday after remaining in a coma for three days.

During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the girl had been brought to Gilgit due to severe abdominal pain. Her mother, suspecting foul play, had raised concerns about a relative. The police acted on this lead and arrested the suspect, collecting DNA samples for testing. These samples would be sent to Lahore for further analysis to confirm any connections to the assault.

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SDPO Wali assured that the investigation is being conducted with utmost seriousness. “Anyone found involved in this crime will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law,” he emphasized. “We are determined to ensure that justice is served, and all suspects will be apprehended until the guilty party is identified,” he said.

The 7-month-old fetus, which was exhumed for DNA testing, is a crucial piece of evidence in this tragic case. SDPO Wali lamented the fact that no formal complaint had been lodged regarding the assault, indicating that timely intervention might have saved the young girl’s life.

Reacting to the incident Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Regional Coordinator Israruddin Israr the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the police department should prioritize this case and bring the perpetrators to justice. He emphasized that such a grave injustice against a disabled girl is intolerable.

Israr expressed that the condemnation of this incident cannot be emphasized enough. He noted that the police have registered an FIR and arrested some suspects, which he described as a good development.

“However, there is a need to work on a priority basis to bring the actual culprits to justice. Such incidents are not only shameful but also remind us of the presence of inhumane individuals in society,” he said.

Israr hoped that the police and judiciary of Gilgit-Baltistan would expose the criminals and make them a lesson for others.