A Pakistani court has dismissed the appeal of two men convicted of the 2020 gang-rape of a French tourist and her three children.. The ruling upholds the death penalty for Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali, who were found guilty of terrorism and robbery following the motorway assault.

The 2020 Sialkot-Lahore Motorway assault

On September 9, 2020, a French tourist and her three children were left vulnerable on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway after their vehicle ran out of fuel. The attackers broke a car window to drag the woman from the vehicle, where they raped her at gunpoint in front of her terrified children. According to the report, the perpetrators also engaged in robbery, seizing jewelry, cash, and bank cards before escaping the scene.

Death sentences for Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali

The anti-terrorism court's decision to uphold the death penalty for Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali follows their initial sentencing in March 2021. The men were convicted not only of gang-rape but also of kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism. The legal process was bolstered by DNA evidence and the survivor's ability to identify the attackers, which led to their arrest just days after the incident occurred.

Backlash against police victim-blaming in Pakistan

The case became a flashpoint for social unrest due to the response of local authorities in Pakistan. as the report notes, a senior police official drew intense criticism by implying the French woman was partly to blame for the incident. This statement triggered massive protests and a wave of condemnation acrooss social media, highlighting the friction between survivors and law enforcement in the region.

The use of hanging as a deterrent in Pakistan

Pakistan remains one of the world's most frequent users of the death penalty, with all executions performed via hanging. While this verdict provides a sense of justice for the French family, human rights activists argue that the incident highlights a need for much broader legal protections. They continue to push the government to implement harsher penalties to combat the frequent occurrence of sexual violence against women.

What remains unverified about the police official's response?

While the legal battle for Malhi and Ali has concluded,several questions remain regarding the institutional response to the crime. It is still unverified whether the police official who made the controversial victim-blaming comments faced any official reprimand or disciplinary action. Furthermore,while the case sparked international outcry,it remains to be seen if the Pakistani government will act on the specific legislative reforms demanded by human rights organizations.