Pak woman claims Taliban 'publicly lashed' her over adultery allegations

Mingora, Dec 1 (ANI): A 27-year-old Pakistani woman has claimed that Swat-based militants had publicly lashed her over allegations of adultery in 2008.

Talking to reporters, Saira Bibi said that the militants accused her of having illicit relations with Zaman, one of her husband's best friends with whom they had family terms, and publicly lashed her in Ashbanr area of Charbagh tehsil, The News reported.

Recollecting the ghastly incident, she said that it was in the closing months of 2008 when militants first called her to their headquarters, which was established in a government school in Ashbanr area of Swat district.

On the baseless charges of adultery, the militants first awarded her 15 lashes inside a room of the school, she said, adding that she was awarded another 15 lashes the next day after people were informed through an announcement to witness the execution of her punishment.

The woman said that the militants also meted out the same treatment to Zaman.

Meanwhile, the police registered a case against four militants of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat for being directly involved in the incident.

Confirming the incident, a resident- Sharifullah Khan- said that besides him, over 100 locals had watched the lashing that took place in the village.

Besides this incident, the militants had also lashed one Chand Bibi, a resident of Kala Killay in Swat district, on baseless charges of adultery. They had accused an electrician, who visited the house of the woman for fixing some electricity fault, of having illicit relations with her.

Chand Bibi's video had caught much attention all over the world when the media reported the incident. The victim, however, changed her statement in the local court, allegedly under pressure, as the area was still in the control of militants.

The Swat people have asked the government to investigate both incidents thoroughly and bring the culprits to justice. (ANI)