PAKISTAN. THREE PEOPLE HANGED FOR GANG RAPE

July 18, 2006: three men, who were convicted of raping a woman in Pakistan's southern Punjab province, were hanged in central city of Lahore, a jail official said.
The men, named as Ejaz Ahmed, Shahid and Muhammad Akram were executed in the Lahore Central prison, Deputy Superintendent jail, Muhammad Ashraf.
The dead bodies were later handed over to relatives, waiting outside jail.
Gang-rape is punishable by death in Pakistan.
Unlike murder cases, those found guilty cannot be pardoned by relatives of the victim.
Jail officials said that the three men were accused of raping a woman Irshad Bibi in her house after they committed robbery in district Sheikhupura of Punjab province.
They had also taken away cash, jewelry and other items, according to police.
The Anti-Terrorism Court had handed down death penalty to the three men and Higher Court and Supreme Court had rejected appeals and a mercy petition was dismissed by President Pervez Musharraf.
Some 18 people have been hanged in less than three weeks in Punjab province.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded 207 cases of gang-rape in Pakistan during 2005. (Sources: IRNA, 19/07/2006)