In the follow up to the love marriage of Miss Firdous Shaheen with Mr. Zamir Lone, the administration of Pakistani Kashmir recovered Mrs Rshida and Rubina, Zamirs mother and sister on July 12, after their abduction by powerful people on June 29, and released the father and two brothers who were arrested on charges of abducting their daughter-in-law, Miss Shaheen. Please see the AHRC urgent appeal, http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2009/3203/
After their recovery the mother and daughter recorded their statements before the Muzaffar Abad police station but police officers have still not provided the official copy of the statement. The family of the groom, Zamir, have dispersed, are in hiding and facing serious threats to their lives. The family are unable to enter their residence as unknown persons are roaming the neighbourhood and threatening anyone connected with the family. The main perpetrators, Mr. Murtaza Gillani, a member of the provincial assembly, Mr. Sabir Naqvi, high officer at the office of the commissioner, Muzaffar Abad and Mr. Syed Hussain Shah Bukhari, father of the bride, have allegedly threatened that if the couple are not produced before them the victims will face serious consequences.
At present the wellbeing of the Lone family is in great jeopardy as family members have had to separate from one another in the hopes that this will make it more difficult for the perpetrators to find them. In the meantime it is known that they are still in search of Ms. Shaheen.
The governments of Pakistan and Kashmir have still not started any investigation into abduction of the women and the arrests of the father and his two sons in the false case of abduction of the bride. Whereas, the bride herself has stated in no less than two statements under section 164 of the Pakistan Criminal Procedure that she married Mr. Zamir of her own will. The perpetrators are receiving impunity despite her statements and those of the grooms mother and sister that they were abducted by the perpetrators and that a police van was used in their abduction from the court premises. The police were therefore instrumental in their abduction.
The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the governments of Pakistan and Kashmir to hold an enquiry into the matter abduction of women and arrests of three males on false charges and to bring the perpetrators before the law. The governments should also follow the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which has been by Pakistan. The family members of Zamir Lone should be provided security and protection and action against concerned police officials should be taken.
