Sir: We have learned that the hearing of Mukhtar Mai’s case has been listed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan for the first week of December 2010. We are gravely concerned about the fact that a former federal minister Mr Qayyum Jatoi had pressurised Mukhtar Mai, the known human rights campaigner, to drop charges against the accused in her case. We believe that the minister’s message is an indirect threat to the life of Mukhtar Mai and we feel that anything could happen and anyone can be used against her, including extremists, outlaws, etc.According to Mukhtar Mai, the minister called her uncle Ghulam Hussain on December 11, 2008 to his place in Jatoi and passed on a message to Mukhtar that she should drop the charges against the thirteen accused of the Mastoi tribe who were involved either in the verdict against Mukhtar or gang-raped her. The minister said that if she does not comply, he and his associates will not let the Supreme Court’s decision go in favour of Mukhtar as they claimed to have political and establishment influence.The minister’s interference shows that the Mastoi clan has political influence of sufficient weight to bring pressure to bear in judicial matters. We therefore urge the authorities to: 1) Ensure Mukhtar Mai’s case is processed without any political pressure or influence. 2) Take special and urgent measures to ensure Mukhtar Mai’s safety and security before, during and especially after the hearing. 3) Hold the federal minister accountable for his interference in an judicial matter and for threatening Mukhtar Mai CONCERNED CITIZENSLahore