'(2 Nov 2016) Gang-raped and paraded naked through her village 14 years ago, Mukhtar Mai walked on a ramp in Pakistan fashion week in Karachi on Tuesday. The country\'s elite fashion crowd gave her a red carpet reception thanks to her courage and work as a women\'s rights campaigner. In 2002, Mai was sentenced by a local council of tribal elders to be gang raped and publicly humiliated as punishment for her brother\'s perceived insult to a rival family. The Associated Press does not identify victims of sexual assault unless they choose to identify themselves. Rather than commit suicide, as many Pakistani women in her position have done, Mai went public and fought all the way to the country\'s Supreme Court to have her attackers jailed. Fourteen men - the alleged rapists and the tribal council members - were put on trial, and six were handed the death sentence. But all of them were eventually released on appeal. Nevertheless, Mai went on to become an international advocate for women\'s rights and founded a charity that sponsors a women\'s shelter and a girl\'s school in her rural hometown of Meerwala. On Tuesday night, surrounded by Pakistan\'s top models and wealthy designers, Mai appeared slightly shy and nervous when faced with the blitz of cameras. Mai, now 44, wore a light green embroidered bridal shirt and silver, silk pajama pants, designed by Rozina Munib, with a scarf covering her hair. More than twenty designers participated in the three-day event organised by Fashion Pakistan Council to showcase latest collections of luxury and bridal wear. Started in 2009 in defiance of Islamic militants who wanted to enforce strict religious laws in the country confining women to the household, the event has become a regular feature every year. Designer Rozina Munib explained why she wanted to feature Mai in her catwalk show. “I want to convey the message to Pakistani women and girls that if they have gone through any trauma, tragedy, accident or some injustice, it doesn’t mean that it is the end of their life; that there is a lot more colour to your life, and you should wait for that; that women have to fight for their rights themselves,\" she said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4270782b30cbcb1adce35ceb8b4bd413'
Tags: Lifestyle , pakistan , AP Archive , Arts and entertainment , GENERAL NEWS , government and politics , karachi , Social affairs , south asia , 4063730 , 4270782b30cbcb1adce35ceb8b4bd413 , Pakistan Rape Survivor
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