A three year old Christian child has been raped while attending a UNICEF sponsored school in Raiwind, Pakistan. Police are investigating the husband of Mrs Saleem the Principal of the school, for the alleged rape.
On 5th July 2021, Anna Chand had begun an educational program at ‘UNICEF School System’ (name given to a UNICEF funded home school), based at Kot Kala Sunder Road, Raiwind. Her father Chand Masih (23 yrs) works as a sweeper at a factory and her mother Roma (23 yrs) is unemployed meaning that their household was very deprived. When an offer of free education, school equipment and uniforms was brought to Roma’s attention by other housewives, she found it hard to refuse. Roma wanted her daughter to have the best start to her education.
The school has been operating in the house of the Muhammad Saleem and has around 30 regular students. The School also operates as a madrasser (school of Islam).
On Saturday 24th July Anna Chand returned home at 11:30 am, half an hour earlier than usual. Normally her mother Roma would collect her from school but this time she was sent home despite her young age by the school principal because she had been complaining of a stomach ache. Roma gave Anna some Gestofill Syrup (a Pakistani over the counter medicine for stomache ailments and she went to sleep. While Anna was asleep her mother found blood stains on her shalwar (trousers)
Fearing the worst, Chand (father) took his daughter to Jinnah Hospital for a medical assessment and they confirmed that Anna had been raped.
They refused to treat Anna saying it is a police matter and we can not treat her until police have examined the case.
Chand Masih wary of going to police before getting a proper medical examination, took Anna to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ Hospital), Raiwind where she was given initial treatment and went through a medical checkup. The examination found a tear on her perineum (the area between anus and scrotum), though doctors found some evidence of rupture of her hymen (tissue over vagina) they have advised the parents to obtain clarity of this position from an expert because of the looming criminal case.
On 25th July, Chand Masih called the emergency police by dialling 15 (equivalent of 999) and demanded the arrest of Muhammad Saleem for sexual offences against a child. He also called Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Religious Affairs, MPA Ijaz Alam Augustin who has intervened and sought strict action by Raiwind Police. They immediately arrested Muhammed Saleem the same day and FIR No. 2224/21 has been registered against Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code:
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