Teenage cricketer Haleema Rafique commits suicide - Relatives blame Multan Cricket Association

[Markhor]

RIP to the young girl, this is a rather sad story and extremely strange.

The background is that five women cricketers came forward alleging sexual abuse against members of the management of Multan Cricket Club.

Three of them denied it after investigation, and they were the only three who turned up to the hearings. Two of them did not. All five women were consequently banned by the PCB.

Unfortunately Halima Rafique, who did not turn up to the hearing, has allegedly committed suicide - relatives as the article states, claim she drank acid during her fast and died. Relatives blame the PCB - claiming that their ban drove her to suicide.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1051814

LAHORE, Oct 25: The inquiry committee set up to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment by five women cricketers against the management of Multan Cricket Club (MCC) has recommended that all five cricketers should be banned from playing all forms of cricket for six months with effect from Oct 23, 2013.

The Multan District Cricket Association (MDCA) too has been censured and asked to keep a close watch on MCC and ensure that the clubs registered with them follow the regulations and disciplinary procedures of the PCB.

A press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) states, “Even after they have served the ban, said the convener of the probe committee and manager Pakistan women’s cricket, Ayesha Ashaar, all five girls will be kept under probation for a period of one year after which the evaluation of their conduct will be made.

“The issue was thoroughly investigated by the two-member inquiry committee, in front of which only three out of the five ladies –– Seema Javed, Hina Ghafoor, Kiran Irshad –– appeared, while the other two Saba Ghafoor and Haleema Rafiq remained absent.

“All three categorically denied having been sexually harassed or having seen such harassment taking place. All three were serving one penalty or ban or another for various offences and that was the focus of their complaint.”

After thorough due process, in addition to banning the five ladies for bringing the game and the image of women’s cricket into disrepute, the PCB has issued a letter of censure to the MDCA to monitor the Club’s activities closely and report to GM Domestic Operations PCB quarterly.

This decision was arrived at after a hearing conducted in Multan on June 11, 2013 regarding the appearance of the five cricketers on a satellite news channel on June 7, 2013 in which they alleged the harassment.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1119374/te...a-rafique-dies-under-mysterious-circumstances

LAHORE: Relatives of the seventeen-year-old female cricketer, Halima Rafique, who was found dead and later buried in her hometown of Multan, held Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responsible for her death, DawnNews reported on Tuesday.

Speaking to media personnel relatives blamed the PCB for the young sportswoman's death and added that the dismissal of harassment charges against Maulvi Sultan Alam and his subsequent damages claim worth 20 million rupees had disheartened Halima Rafique and driven her to commit suicide.

The relatives added that the 17-year-old drank acid during her fast which led to her death.

In June 2013, Rafique and four other girls had accused the management of the Multan Cricket Club (MCC) of sexual harassment.

At the time, a two-member committee investigated the allegations and recorded statements.

Three of the accusing cricketers had appeared before the committee and denied charges of sexual assault.

However, Rafique and another female cricketer who had made the accusations had not appeared before the committee.

The inquiry committee had recommended that all five cricketers should be banned from playing all forms of cricket for six months with effect from Oct 23, 2013.

There must be an immediate post-mortem carried out to properly determine cause of death and full investigation into the whole cause. Were the girls pressured to withdraw their allegations of abuse ? Why did the two girls not turn up to the hearings ?

 

[Stark]

This is so wrong at numerous levels.
A dedicated sportsperson + a human being harassed to such levels..

May her soul rest in peace.

 

[DHONI183]

Teenage cricketer Halima Rafique dies - relatives blame PCB

Heart-breaking stuff!

I had followed the case quite closely back then but then suddenly not much was being reported on this. I got to know of Halima Rafique´s suicide earlier today on the television but wasn´t aware that she was one of the players linked to that harassment case.

May her soul rest in peace.... Shocking!

 

[blinding light]

Harrowing and shocking!!



It's obvious there was pressure involved in the matter. 99% of the time females don't just imagine sexual abuse and scream wolf!



Hope the perpetrators are hanged!!



May Allah forgive her and grant her peace!! Ameen

 

[KarachiKing]

There needs to be a thorough investiation

 

[Golden arm]

Teenage cricketer Halima Rafique commits suicide - relatives blame PCB

Sexual Harrassment in Pakistan cricket circles is not uncommon. I am surprised that no body at pakpassion is reporting this incidence.

Its quite sad that young female pakistani cricketer had to face sexual harassment first and then rather than getting justice, she was put under intense pressure by the corrupt cricket officials plus most corrupt judges in the world.

Please participate in this thread and do highlight the culprits in this case.

http://www.nation.com.pk/national/16-Jul-2014/female-cricketer-commits-suicide

 

[Pakistani_Legend]

This is absolutely terrible.

May she rest in peace.

 

[Golden arm]

Meanwhile, relatives of Haleema have blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for her mysterious death. “She had been driven to commit suicide by consuming acid after the PCB and the Multan Cricket Club (MCC) had dismissed the harassment charges she had levelled against Maulvi Sultan Alam,” a relative of Haleema said

Maulvi Sultan is the the main Criminal behind the sexual harrassment episode. I am sure he is quite higher up in the PCB, and is still part of the domestic set up in Multan cricket.

 

[Sakss]

[MENTION=9455]Golden arm[/MENTION]

Merged your thread with an existing one

 

[Golden arm]

Thanks brother.

Can you please change the title? She commited suicide NOT a natural death.

 

[thivaakar]

RIP This is SAD

 

[Firebreaker]

What the hell is going on in PCB?

 

[Sherlock]

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon

Although she took her own life (judging by reports), may she have a peaceful and rewarding afterlife.

 

[Cricketrenew]

This is so sad, RIP.
A proper investigation is needed but will it happen....................

 

[MenInG]

PCB Women Wing shocked, saddened at Haleema Rafiq’s suicide

Pakistan Cricket Board Women Wing is shocked and saddened at Haleema Rafiq’s death, reportedly from suicide. The young woman cricketer from Multan was apparently under extreme stress after defamation notice for Rs20 million was served on her by the owner of the Multan Cricket Club, Maulvi Sultan Alam for levelling allegations of sexual harassment against him last year on a private television channel.




Other than five women cricketers, the main respondents in the suit are: chief executive of the private TV channel, its anchor and reporter.

Pakistan Cricket Board Women Wing had no contact with any of the five girls after it banned them for six months with effect from October 23, 2013 following a thorough investigation found that the allegations were false. Of the five cricketers, Saba Ghafoor and Haleema Rafiq had not appeared before the inquiry committee.



Click here for the Press Release issued on October 24, 2013 announcing the ban:

http://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release...of-sexual-harassment-by-five-women-crick.html



Click here for the Inquiry Report:

http://www.pcb.com.pk/publications.html



Though the ban had expired on April 22, 2014, none of the five cricketers participated in any PCB event, including the National Championship.



PCB Women Wing shares the grief of the bereaved family and prays that Almighty may give them the strength and courage to bear this loss.

 

[m.shah]

Terrible...shocking...heart breaking
This moulvi guy should br investihated

 

[MenInG]

See below for earlier report of her suicide

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/repor...fter-accusing-officials-of-harassment-2002665

A 17-year-old Pakistani female cricketer reportedly committed suicide on Monday night.

Haleema Rafiq, fast-bowler in the national women's cricket team, had levelled harassment charges against top officials of the Multan Cricket Club along with four other female cricketers 13 months ago.

Rafiq drank acid and lost consciousness on Monday. She was taken to Nishtar Hospital, where she breathed her last.

Haleema Rafiq was buried on Tuesday and police officials said family members had declined a post-mortem examination. At the same time, the police said they would be an applicant in a case to conduct a postmortem, if necessary.

Rafiq and the four other cricketers had told the media 13 months ago that the officials demanded sexual favours in exchange for selection in the team.

 

[Hawkeye]

I remember she was on a TV show exposing the sexual harassment of female cricketers.

Really shocking news, the powerful & crooks won again.

 

[sam_ahm]

This is really sad, may Allah grant her jannah.

Thorough investigations should be carried out in this matter, this is a very serious issue.

 

[Markhor]

family members had declined a post-mortem examination

Why ? If she drank acid like they claim then all a post-mortem would do is confirm the cause of death, unless this is one of those honour killing cases.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

The sort of abuse that happens to women in the subcontinent is sickening. No women deserves this sort of treatment. These men are worser then animals. May justice prevail one day for all human life.

 

[Justcrazy]

Something must be done. Proper investigation is required.

 

[Laparwah]

It seems to be a very minor reason to commit suicide over.

 

[Major]

Wait, so whos side of the story is true? Did the pcb officials really dis what have been allegated against them or was this said just because these girls dint get selection. Because the girls whos name were mentioned as victims denied it.

Hence, they should had done post mortem for further investigation. Who knows what if someone else killed her? Or what if the reason behind suicide was something else? Keeping in mide that she belongs to multan and the reasons for her beig on news, honour killing cant be ruled out aswell.

Can't just blame the multan board like that

 

[Bilal7]

Why would the three deny the charges? Why would someone commit suicide over a ban? What other offences were they serving bans for?

Very curious case this.

 

[shortbread]

It seems to be a very minor reason to commit suicide over.

A woman came forward to report a case of sexual harassment. In our world it takes extreme bravery to stand up to this and face the social stigma. For all their bravery they were let down.

IT IS NOT A MINOR REASON!!

 

[Major]

A woman came forward to report a case of sexual harassment. In our world it takes extreme bravery to stand up to this and face the social stigma. For all their bravery they were let down.

IT IS NOT A MINOR REASON!!

but then the three other women who were also alleged to be victims denied it.............. Now the reason behind that could be they din't want to face being shamed in public or maybe the whole thing was false and they did all this for their non selection...... We don't know whether the main background story is true or false, so its better not to past on judgement against her or the multan board

 

[Laparwah]

If you think so then I am sorry to say you are an idiot. A woman came forward to report a case of sexual harassment. In our world it takes extreme bravery to stand up to this and face the social stigma. For all their bravery they were let down.

IT IS NOT A MINOR REASON!!

Taking your own life is "haram", period! Sexual harassment does not mean taking your own life.

 

[Saqs]

It seems to be a very minor reason to commit suicide over.

In a country like Pakistan? Doubt it would be minor.

 

[Bilal7]

A woman came forward to report a case of sexual harassment. In our world it takes extreme bravery to stand up to this and face the social stigma. For all their bravery they were let down.

IT IS NOT A MINOR REASON!!

Do you have any evidence that these women were harassed or speaking out of pure emotion? The law requires proof and since there was none, we can't start calling other people idiots for not completely supporting these women.

There is a lot of mystery in this case.

 

[smoothcriminal]

If you folks have any semblance of an idea in relation to how sexual harassment of women/domestic abuse is treated in Pakistan, most cases end up with victims "resiling" from their statements after pressure from accused and even the police. Because claims of sexual harassment cannot be settled out of court in Pakistan on a legal basis, resiling is the most coercive and typical technique used by the oppressor to ensure that they dont have to go to court. Families also dont have the mental strength to undergo the ordeal of a trial because A- they dont get any protection from the State B- They cannot afford to pay legal expenses C- the stigma attaches with them forever due to societal perception of harassment victims. Having worked with civil rights firms in Pakistan, I know this all too well.

The "innocent until proven guilty" doctrine might work for developed nations with solid legal infrastructure but in Pakistan using that doctrine is absurd. As absurd as saying that Asif Zardari is not corrupt because he couldn't be convicted in Pakistani courts, that Malik Ishaq is not a terrorist because there was "insufficient" evidence or that Bilal Khar did not throw acid on Fakhra Younis because another person by the name of "Bilal Khar" threw acid on her (yes that was his actual legal defense which bailed him out of jail).


Stop being naive.

 

[Saqs]

I heard Netherlands decided to place the burden of proof of innocence on the alleged rapist rather than the victim.

That might actually be the way to go for countries like Pak.

It would be an unmitigated disaster if that happened in the States though.

 

[Sakss]

Under threat: Haleema’s family moves court plea to register FIR

The brother of female cricketer Haleema Rafique moved the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday, demanding the police register an FIR under Section 302 (murder) against the Multan Cricket Club (MCC) officials accused of sexually harassing his sister and her colleagues.

Muhammad Arshad approached the court because he does not trust the police, who, according to him, are not cooperating. Therefore, he filed a petition, asking the court to direct the police to lodge an FIR against MCC chairman Maulvi Sultan Alam and other selectors.

Earlier, the family had written to the police a day after Haleema’s alleged suicide that they do not want to take legal action against anyone. The written statement was made part of the investigations by the Gulghast police in Multan. Even though CCPO Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed had summoned the family for their application against any suspected person on Thursday, they refused to go to the police.

Sources close to the family told The Express Tribune that Halima’s family had been pressurised not to take any legal action against MCC.

Three days after the cricketer allegedly committed suicide, her family held prayers for the deceased.

Meanwhile, five demonstrations were held by activists and lawyers in different parts of the city in solidarity with the victim.

Calling for justice, the lawyers argued that if justice was not served it would deter female participation in sports.

Civil society activist Faheem Akhtar condemning the incident suggested that an unbiased probe should be conducted in the case. “Six women publicly accusing someone of sexual harassment should not be taken lightly”.

The 17-year-old female cricketer reportedly committed suicide earlier this week, months after she and four other cricketers levelled harassment charges against top officials of the Multan Cricket Club.

Rafiq drank acid used to sterilise toilets and lost consciousness on Monday.

More than a year ago, Haleema and five other female cricketers accused officials of the Multan Cricket Club of sexual harassment. The cricketers told the media that the officials demanded sexual favours in exchange for selection in the team.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) inquiry deemed that the five cricketers should be banned from play for six months and the officials censured. Following the inquiry, Haleema received summons from court and was threatened with a fine of Rs20 million. She served out the ban but did not return to the squad.

http://pktimes.4com.co/tag/haleemas/

 

[RickyG]

Taking your own life is "haram", period! Sexual harassment does not mean taking your own life.

And sexual harassment is halal right?

Try walking in someone else's shoes before you decide whether their reasons for committing suicide were justified or "minor". Do you realize the implications of reporting sexual assault in Pakistan? You become tainted. Your family blames you. No one will marry you. Not to mention she practically sacrificed her career in order to do the right thing.

 

[Laparwah]

And sexual harassment is halal right?

Try walking in someone else's shoes before you decide whether their reasons for committing suicide were justified or "minor". Do you realize the implications of reporting sexual assault in Pakistan? You become tainted. Your family blames you. No one will marry you. Not to mention she practically sacrificed her career in order to do the right thing.

Save the guilt trip. Everyone faces problems in life but that does not mean taking your own life. What this lady went through can not be worse then the Iraqis, Palestinians or Kashmiris who face up to oppression bravely. Taking her life will cause further grief to her already suffering family not clear her name, it's basically accepting you were in the wrong. Stop trying to deflect the argument by sarcastically calling sexual harassment halaal! Point is that Allah has made suicide a major sin, understood??

 

[smoothcriminal]

^ Sorry but you are in no position to judge what the lady went through. The traumas of being a sexual harassment victim are immense in our society especially when the legal system provides you no remedy, the State offers you no protection and society looks at you with disdain. You are entitled to your perception in relation to suicide being haram but dont try to put her acts in a "blanket statement" as admission of guilt. Thats actually a ridiculously silly statement. When Fakhra Younis threw herself out of the building 10 years after being burned with acid by Bilal Khar, did that make her admit that she was at fault all of a sudden? What a preposterous statement.

 

[Anfield]

When Pakistani media tried to expose the sexual Harassment issue in women's cricket, Najam Sethi (PCB chairman) snubbed the media. A journalist and the anchor Imran Khan did a couple of shows on sexual harassment but Sethi Shut him off. Sethi said that he would fire the manager or coach (not sure who the particular person was but he was the main culprit) and would not take any negative actions against the girls who came forward. The journalist met the women cricketers, they agreed. They said, "all we want is to play cricket in safe environment". However no steps were taken against the manager/coach and those girls were not allowed to play the cricket again.

Shame on Sethi!

 

[Laparwah]

^ Sorry but you are in no position to judge what the lady went through. The traumas of being a sexual harassment victim are immense in our society especially when the legal system provides you no remedy, the State offers you no protection and society looks at you with disdain. You are entitled to your perception in relation to suicide being haram but dont try to put her acts in a "blanket statement" as admission of guilt. Thats actually a ridiculously silly statement. When Fakhra Younis threw herself out of the building 10 years after being burned with acid by Bilal Khar, did that make her admit that she was at fault all of a sudden? What a preposterous statement.

...and you are in no position to justify suicide or anything as such no matter what a person went through. If Allah has forbidden a thing then that's the end of the debate. Those who take their lives will always try to justify it one way or another like all criminals. As stated previously that if the likes of Palestinians are fighting then nothing else compares. Don't tell me what to think nor go against what Allah has said, there are no exceptions whatsoever...next you will attempt to justify suicide bombing by telling us that they also are victims of all sorts of injustices. I am sure the parents and family of the deceased lady would agree with my views, she has only worsened the situation for her poor parents. The only retarded views are from your kind telling me that the answer to being molested or burnt is taking your own life as if it's a remedy, how ridiculous and immature your views are.

Allah does not break down what forms of suicide is acceptable to him or not. All have been forbidden irrespective of what the community or society thinks. Finally, the lady may have been sexually harassed yet that does not mean being molested, it does not state anywhere that she was r@ped. As far as I know some other Pak woman cricketers have also complained of the same yet none took their own life. Grow up!

 

[smoothcriminal]

^For you the story ends where "she committs suicide and goes to hell." Entertainign that narrative for a second, what about the hell on earth left by those that still oppressed her. They get off free just because she committed suicide?

And learn the difference between "justifying" v. "dissecting." Justifying means that there is a social benefit for the wrongful act that one does. I never said suicide was a socially beneficial act nor that suicide was a remedy. Aqal kay nakhun kahan gaye aaapkay?

I was dissecting as to the reasons of her suicide so one can analyze what society can take away from these situations. You dont think she knew her "eternal" repercussions for her act? It worries me that she (along with many others) who have been victims of violence end up killing themselves because for them that is disturbingly a better solution than living.

Unless you were in her shoes (which you cant since you seem to be a product of a patriarchal and misogynistic mindset) you cant understand her "motive" (no matter how irrational) for committing such an act. The rationale/reason for committing suicide needs a far more sophisticated analysis than "oh she killed herself that means we can move past this event." Society cannot progress unless we dont address the basic problem, which is lack of judicial enforcement against oppressors.

You on one hand can say "she killed herself case closed she's evil what a stupid girl" and move on from this. I'd rather try to dissect why this is a recurring theme for domestic abuse victims and see what society can do to help those who clearly could not be protected by the State.

To each their own.

 

[LongHorn]

...and you are in no position to justify suicide or anything as such no matter what a person went through. If Allah has forbidden a thing then that's the end of the debate. Those who take their lives will always try to justify it one way or another like all criminals. As stated previously that if the likes of Palestinians are fighting then nothing else compares. Don't tell me what to think nor go against what Allah has said, there are no exceptions whatsoever...next you will attempt to justify suicide bombing by telling us that they also are victims of all sorts of injustices. I am sure the parents and family of the deceased lady would agree with my views, she has only worsened the situation for her poor parents. The only retarded views are from your kind telling me that the answer to being molested or burnt is taking your own life as if it's a remedy, how ridiculous and immature your views are.

Allah does not break down what forms of suicide is acceptable to him or not. All have been forbidden irrespective of what the community or society thinks. Finally, the lady may have been sexually harassed yet that does not mean being molested, it does not state anywhere that she was r@ped. As far as I know some other Pak woman cricketers have also complained of the same yet none took their own life. Grow up!

The only one being immature is you, but we can give it time, maybe in a few years or a decade or so, you will look back at your rants and laugh at how your beliefs showed an absolute lack of real life experience....

No one is saying suicide is the solution, it is just something that happened after she snapped.

 

[sherlock89]

Very Sad and Shocking incident .RIP

 

[Laparwah]

The only one being immature is you, but we can give it time, maybe in a few years or a decade or so, you will look back at your rants and laugh at how your beliefs showed an absolute lack of real life experience....

No one is saying suicide is the solution, it is just something that happened after she snapped.

You are immature already trying to justify taking your own life, if condemning suicide makes me child like in your book then so be it . There is no hope for you when it comes to such matters, you are a lost cause. So now you are not trying to justify suicide but talking of real life experiences. Suicide is enough reality for me.

 

[Abdullah719]

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[ExplicitAI]

Any human being who is convicted of such actions mentioned in the original post must be put in prison for life. No one would like that to happen to their own daughter, sister, cousin, mother etc, so why should we show a blind eye to when this happens to a female of a different family? They would go through the same things as you would if this happened in your own case. There should be zero tolerance for such actions.

 

[Sherlock]

Can someone post what was said? Anyone found guilty or not?