HRCP, victim's family reject acquittals, ask govt to file appeal.

KARACHI -- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and family of the slain civil rights activist Perween Rahman on Monday expressed their dissatisfaction over the acquittal of five accused in Ms Rahman's murder case and urged Sindh government to immediately file an appeal against the verdict and detain the acquitted men under MPO.

The HRCP in a statement issued in Lahore also demanded the provincial government provide the victim's family, colleagues and legal team adequate security saying that the accused, once released would pose a grave and imminent threat to Ms Rahman's family and her colleagues at Orangi Pilot Project (OPP).

It said: 'Given the gravity of the crime and the substantial evidence on record, including an admissible confession by the principal accused, we believe that justice was not done.'

The HRCP said: 'Ms Rahman's murder was the product of a system in which the rule of law was easily subverted and human rights defenders must risk their lives to merely do their jobs.

'Her family has waited over nine years to get justice. The Sindh government must file an appeal immediately against the court's judgment, while the state as a whole should reflect on its ability to provide justice to victims of violence,' it added.

Arrest under MPO demanded

The victim's family said in a statement...