Police arrest 12 after Pakistan ‘revenge rape’

Police in Pakistan have arrested 12 people – including members of a village council, elders and relatives – for ordering a man to rape a girl in revenge for the rape of his sister.

Rehmat Ali, a police officer, said the 12 were brought to court, to allow police to investigate them for a week without bail. He said that following the rape of a village girl, the family of the alleged rapist, Wasim Saeed, of Pir Mahal, sought pardon from her family. Both sides agreed on the “revenge rape” of the suspected rapist’s sister, which took place last week.

Revenge assaults, although illegal, are still common in some rural areas.