Pakistani authorities have apprehended a key suspect in the gang rape of a female polio worker. Ahmad Jakhrani, one of the three men accused of the assault, was arrested overnight, local police confirmed on Wednesday.
Last week in Jacobabad, Sindh province, a female care worker was attacked during a polio outreach home visit. She had arrived with the intention of administering the vaccine to children living there.
According to local police official Mohammad Saifal, the woman was raped by three suspects, who took turns assaulting her. The other two attackers remain at large. A local police chief and a district administrator were fired for negligence following the attack, for failing to provide the polio worker with adequate security. Police have been stationed at her relatives' home, where she is currently staying to protect her.
Pakistani publication Dawn reported that the woman initially recounted that a man with a gun robbed her mobile phone and money before fleeing.
During court proceedings, the victim retracted her previous statement and testified that she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint in Allah Bakhsh Jakhrani village while doing her job.
Authorities have also detained the husband of the assaulted woman, who allegedly expelled her from their home and threatened her life following the attack, accusing her of dishonoring the family by being raped.
So-called honor killings—crimes, where women are murdered by relatives for perceived dishonor, remain a significant issue in the country.
The Sindh provincial government has pledged a thorough investigation into the assault and has committed to enhancing security for vaccination teams moving forward.
Polio remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the only two countries where the disease has not been fully eradicated.
Although violence and harassment against polio workers during vaccination campaigns is not unheard of, gang rape is exceedingly rare.
Militants often attack vaccination teams, fueled by conspiracy theories falsely claiming that the campaigns are designed to sterilize children.
This has been happening for more than a decade in various forms. In 2012, a series of shootings against polio workers in Karachi, Peshawar and other cities led to numerous deaths and injuries. More than 68 worker deaths were reported in the two years that followed.
In response to the attacks, the Pakistani government, along with international organizations like the World Health Organization and UNICEF have increased security measures for vaccination teams. This includes deploying armed guards and collaborating with local law enforcement to protect health workers during campaigns.
The provincial government's spokesperson, Sadia Javed, assured that further arrests are anticipated and emphasized the government's commitment to safeguarding all female polio workers.
"We are providing protection to the victim of assault," she said. "The government will ensure that all women polio workers get maximum security during the upcoming anti-polio campaigns."
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