Multan, Aug 12: Police have arrested four men suspected of gang raping a 35-year-old mother in eastern Pakistan, police officials said today. Seven men entered the woman's house late Sunday night and held her husband and young daughter at gun point, police officer Mehar Zia Slam said. She was taken to another room where five men allegedly raped her. She was able to identify one of the men who is a local landowner, Aslam said. The landowner and three of his friends were arrested yesterday, said Aslam. They all belong to the same village of Lakhmor, 300 kms northwest of Multan in the eastern Pakistani province of Punjab.

Police are still searching for the others, said Aslam.


Though rape is punishable by death under Pakistani laws, violence against women is common in conservative rural areas.


Few women dare to complain, especially in rape cases, for fear that they will bring dishonor and be disowned by their families and left without any support.
Bureau Report