ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 27 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan heard opening arguments Monday in the internationally notorious appeal of four acquittals in a gang rape case.
Both Mukhtar Mai, 33, and the government are appealing to overturn the March acquittals of four men originally sentenced to death for raping her in 2002.
The acquittals were ordered by the Lahore High Court for lack of evidence. The court also reduced the death sentence of a sixth man to life imprisonment.
All 14 men remain jailed after the Punjab government ordered their arrests despite the Lahore ruling.
The case took on political overtones after President Pervez Musharraf ordered Mai banned from traveling abroad, fearing she would harm Pakistan's image, although Monday she confirmed her passport had been returned to her.
Proceedings before the three-judge panel are expected to last at least a week, the BBC said.
