The Pakistani government is barring a rape victim named Mukhtaran Bibi from leaving the country in an attempt to block her from publicizing her case. Amnesty International had planned to bring Bibi to the United States. Three years ago Bibi was gang-raped near her home. The rape was ordered by the tribal council as punishment for a crime allegedly committed by her 12-year-old brother. Last week — as she prepared to travel abroad — she was put under house arrest and then taken into detention. This came as a court ordered the 12 men connected to the crime to be released from prison. Meanwhile, in Washington on Thursday, President Bush welcomed Pakistan’s foreign minister and praised Pakistani President Musharraf’s “bold leadership” in the so-called war on terror.