13-Year-Old Mentally Challenged Girl Gang Raped For 2 Months, Impregnated

KEY POINTS

The suspects in the case were the victim’s close relatives
The horrific incident took place in the Nawankot area of Lahore
Police is investigating the case while the girl is undergoing medical examination

A 13-year-old mentally challenged girl in Pakistan was gang-raped for two months by two men, who happened to be her close relatives.

The horrific incident took place in the Nawankot area of Lahore, ARY News reported Sunday. The suspects were identified as Shah Mir and Ali Sajid. The crime came to light after the girl was taken to a hospital as her health condition deteriorated. Doctors at the hospital found that the girl was pregnant.

Authorities are currently investigating the gang-rape allegations. The girl is also undergoing medical examination as the police questions those linked to the case.

The latest case comes weeks after a deaf and dumb girl, 17, was allegedly raped by a man at her house in Chiniot, Pakistan. The man reportedly entered her house in Bhanianwala area and managed to escape before anyone could catch him. He left the home as soon as the girl's family members arrived. The girl's uncle later approached the police and filed a complaint against the suspect. The accused was later arrested.

According to a Karachi-based group War Against Rape, fewer than 3 percent of sexual assault or rape cases result in a conviction in Pakistan.

In April, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan drew criticisms after he blamed the rise in sexual assault cases on how women dress, reported News18. His comments came as Khan responded to a question about the steps taken by his government to prevent rape and sexual assault cases. He advised women to "cover-up" using the word "purdah," a term that refers to modest dressing.

“This entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it,” Khan was quoted by the outlet as saying. “The incidents of rape of women... [have] actually very rapidly increased in society.”

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, reacted to the comments, saying: “Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes.”