Pakistanis in Uganda apologise for rape victim

By Francis Emorut                

The Pakistani community has apologized to Ugandans and the victim who was gang-raped by Pakistani nationals and has pledged to meet the medical costs of the 23-year old woman.

“It’s very sad what happened to our sister who was gang-raped by Pakistanis and we apologize to all Ugandans, the victim and her family. We condemn the act in the strongest terms committed by our fellow Pakistanis,” Tarid Javed, the chairman of Pakistani Association said.

“We don’t support criminality,” Javed who has lived in the country for over 17 years stated.

The 23-year old woman was allegedly gang-raped by five Pakistanis, two of whom have so far been apprehended while the three are at large.

The victim is undergoing treatment at an undisclosed place and the Pakistani community is willing to meet her medical bills.

“The Pakistani community would like to give a hand and assist the victim in paying her medical bills, facilitation and giving her a job,” Javed said.

Javed was addressing a press conference jointly with members of Uganda Women’s Network at the agency’s headquarters in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb on Thursday.

Javed was supported by an official from YAUSA car importer, Hassan Raza Basit, where the alleged culprit worked.

“We are willing to pay her medical bills to fulfill our social corporate responsibility,” Basit said.

The women activists had called upon the Pakistani community to condemn the act of rape by their nationals and disassociate themselves from the incident and produce the suspects.

The consulate of the Republic of Pakistan, Boney Katatumba, revealed that the Pakistan government is very concerned about the incident and wants to see that justice is being done.

Katatumba informed the media and women activists that the minister of internal affairs Gen. Aronda Nyakairima and integrity minister Simon Lokodo called him for a meeting over the incident but didn’t divulge what was discussed but only apologized on the behalf the Pakistani community.

“The Pakistan government is very concerned about the rape case. I apologize for the action associated to Pakistani nationals and I condemn the act in the strongest terms and I call upon the Police to investigate the matter and bring it to its logical conclusion,” Katatumba said.

“We are very sorry to the nation and to the lady. We want the culprits to be apprehended and we have cooperated with the Police by supplying the pictures of the suspects,” Basit added.

Rita Aciro, the executive director of Uganda Women’s Network, former East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Irene Ovonji-Odida and Talma Awori implored the Pakitani community to compensate the victim and meet all her medical bills.

They also asked the Police to apprehend the culprits who are still at large so as to ensure that justice is done.