Mukhtaran Mai?s defence presents case in review plea
 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has adjourned till next week the hearing of Mukhtaran Mai’s review petition challenging the acquittal of 13 people accused of her gang-rape.A three-member bench of apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, heard Mai’s review petition against the acquittal of the accused on Wednesday.During the hearing, Mai’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan argued that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had ruled there were no injuries found on Mai as a result of her sexual assault, even though the relevant doctor himself appeared before the bench and told it there were injuries.The LHC decision also stated there was no evidence which proved that Mai had demonstrated any resistance to the assault, he further contended. Ahsan pleaded the area counsellor also testified before the court as a witness to the incident. Ahsan argued the accused had a lot of influence on the people of the Mustoi community. The court then adjourned the hearing of the case till next week.In June 2002, Mai was allegedly gang-raped on orders of a Panchayat as punishment after her younger brother was accused of having illicit relations with a girl from a rival tribe. An anti-terrorism court in 2002 had released eight suspects, while sentencing six men to death.In March 2005, five convicts were acquitted by a LHC bench while one’s sentence was converted into life imprisonment. The apex court also up held the LHC’s decision. However, Mai had filed a review petition against the acquittal of accused persons.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/_FGNzOwnpbk

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