Pak rape victim sets herself ablaze after accused freed

An 18-year-old Pakistani girl has died after setting herself ablaze outside a police station for allegedly declaring her rapists 'innocent'.

The girl set herself on fire in front of several policemen at a police station in Bet Mir Hazar Khan in Muzaffarghar district of Punjab province yesterday.

"The girl had 80 per cent burn injuries. We tried our best to save her life but couldn't," said Doctor Shaukat Malik of Nishter Hospital Multan.

Amna, a first-year student was allegedly gang-raped by accused Nadir Khan and four others on January 5 while she was returning home from college.

However, police registered an attempted rape case against Nadir Khan only and later declared him innocent.

Nadir was granted bail yesterday.

In protest to this, Amna doused her clothes with petrol and set herself on fire in front of the police station.

"My daughter was so dejected after her rapist got bail that she decided to end her life," Amna's mother said.

She alleged that Nadir paid Rs 70,000 to investigation officier Zulfiqar Ahmed to declare him innocent.

None of the policemen present there tried to stop her from committing suicide, media reports said.

District Police Officer Usman Akram Gondal has suspended Zulfikar Ahmed and three other officials, reports said.