On December 23, the President of Pakistan appointed Mr. Sana Ullah Abbasi, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Hyderabad range as the inquiry officer in the case of Ms. Taslim Solangi, a 17 year-old girl who was allegedly mauled by the dogs and then shot dead by her in-laws on the pretext of an honour killing. The girl was murdered in the first week of March 2008 on the decision of a Jirga, an illegal tribal court.
Prior to this appointment the President also appointed a member of the National Assembly, Ms. Nafisa Shah, the daughter of the chief minister of the same province where the incident took place, as his special representative to enquire about the incident. She was appointed in the end of the October 2008 but since then her report has not been published despite the fact that it was submitted to the President at the end of November. In several interviews to the media Ms. Shah said that she was of the opinion that there was no sufficient evidence to suggest that Ms. Taslim Solangi was mauled by dogs before she was killed. Ms Shah conducted her inquiries in the presence of same administration and police officers who were the responsible for concealing the case for so many months and who failed to arrest the culprits. The AHRC has published its views on the enquiry conducted by the representative of president.
The case first came to light on October 26 and finally after two months of enquiry another officer has been appointed by the President. However, as mentioned, the appointee officer was involved in the case of the kidnapping and hostage taking of eight women and four children in an attempt to force the surrender of a suspected dacoit. The DIG (Operations) himself stated before the press on November 26, 2008, that until the production of the suspected dacoit no one will be released. When asked about the legality of what he was doing the DIG has merely apologised, declaring that his hands were tied until the suspected bandit is turned in.
Mr. Sana Ullah Abbasi has been instructed by the President to complete and submit his report within 15 days. However, despite the fact that he was appointed on the 23rd he has yet to initiate any enquiry. The mother of the victim, Ms. Taslim Solangi has contacted him several times but each time the DIG says that he will take action but no formal action has been taken. The chief justice of Sindh provincial high court has already taken Sou Moto action on the application of the AHRC against the police officers who were involved in the hostage taking which including the DIG Mr. Sana Ullah Abbasi. On December 23 the double bench of the Sindh high court has summoned Mr. Sana ullah Abbasi to submit the comments before the court in the Sou Moto case on January 15.
A fair trial or enquiry in the case of Taslim Solangi is not possible by the Sindh province administration as they themselves were involved through the Jirga system. Two more accused persons named in the First Information Report (FIR), filed by father of the victim remain at large and are being supported by the local administration. Ms. Nafisa Shah, the former representative of President is pressuring the parents to remove the names of one Nazim (Head of Union Council), Mr. Salim Solangi and one land officer (tappe dar) Mr. Illahi Bux Solangi from the FIR as both of them were working for her during her election campaign.
The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the government to notify the enquiry committee with terms of reference according to the laws of the Pakistan and appoint a legal officer for the enquiry otherwise the perpetrators will continue to enjoy their position. The enquiry by the DIG will not yield any sensible result to curb the menace of honour killing, the barbaric way of murder of the women folk in the province and Jirga courts will remain as the best tools before the power full people against the women. The AHRC urges the President of Pakistan to appoint an independent judicial commission to probe the case of the Ms. Taslim Solangi which will unearth the criminal nexus between the law enforcement agencies and the powerful land owners of the province.
For further information on the aforementioned cases please refer to the following AHRC statements:
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1743/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1759/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1785/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/3078/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1802/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1805/
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1791/
