Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a young deaf girl has been missing since June 2006 and that police have refused to investigate the case; instead they have acted as brokers for the suspected perpetrators. The seventeen-year-old was hired by a well known politico-religious family in Punjab to assist during a marriage ceremony and has not been seen or heard from since. Her family was told that she had been sent to the house of a relative of the employer a military officer; all further attempts to find her have been thwarted by the former employers and local police. The mother and her three daughters have moved to sheltered accommodation due to continuous threats, and report being warned against filing a legal case. Although the case was recently filed at the request of the Chief Minister, it was quickly closed by police officers. The girl remains missing.
CASE DETAILS:
According to information provided by the victims mother and the Star Welfare Organisation, an NGO, Miss Muqaddas Bibi, a deaf domestic helper in her teens (pictured left with her mother), was working for the sons of Makhdoom Abdul Hameed Mian Mohammad Anwer Makhdoom, Mian Mohammad Saeed Makhdoom and Mian Mohammad Naveed a local landlord and influential politico-religious person, for three years. In 2006, when she was 17, she was relieved from duty. A few months later the Makhdoom family asked that she spend three days preparing for a marriage ceremony at their house, and she has not been heard from since.
The girl’s mother, Ameeran Bibi, was told that her daughter had been sent about 100km away to Multan, to work for Makhdoom Abdul Hameed’ daughter Javeria Shah, and her husband Nasir Shah who is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Pakistan army. At this time Muqaddas Bibi was still a minor. Her mother reports being refused the contact details of the Shahs and being told nothing further. Officers at Laksiyyan police station told the girl’s parents that they had no reason to worry, since the Makhdoom family is respected within the religious community.
After one year her parents report that they tried to file an official police complaint, but that it was rejected by the Station Head Officer (SHO), Mr. Umer Hayat. He allegedly told them that the family is too powerful to take action against.
Ameeran Bibi was unable to pay the fees required by a lawyer, so she filed a case against the Makhdoom family in the courts of Kot Momin with the help of the tradesman who specialise in writing applications. Laksiyyan police officials responded with statements, as seen here, (sent to various authorities and courts, among them the district police officer and the Nazim, or head of the local council) claiming that there was insufficient evidence for a case against the Makhdoom family.
On 27 September 2007 the Court of Peace and Justice ordered the District Police Officer of Sargodha to file a missing person report. This was not done, and although the accused were taken in for questioning by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hameed Ullah Rokri, they were released shortly afterwards without charge. Ameeran Bibi then filed an application to the District Sessions Court Sargodha in complaint. In the same application she claimed that the DSP had prevented the SHO of Lakhsian police station, another local station, from investigating the case. On 29 July 2009, the Chief Minister of Punjab ordered the district police to file the case, and finally, they did so.
In response to queries by the AHRC, the DSP says that he personally went to Multan and spoke to the suspected Lieutenant Colonel Nasir Shah about the whereabouts of Miss Muqaddas, and was told that she had been working at his house as a domestic helper but had run away. He claims that he is satisfied by this explanation. When the AHRC asked the DSP why the army officer did not report her disappearance to the police, the question was ignored.
It is sadly commonplace for this kind of case involving a poor victim and alleged perpetrators with money and military links to be kept from court for three years. The AHRC has issued numerous cases in which a military connection has guarantees impunity, among them: UAC-172-2009, UAC-039-2009 and UAC-003-2009.
The lack of investigation into Muqaddas Bibi’s disappearance shows how easily a victim or their family can be kept from the complaints process, and how open and pervasive corruption has become in Pakistan. Even the courts appear powerless when faced with a wealthy, prestigious suspect. After three years and various threats many victims give up.
Since the incident Ameeran Bibi has left her home and is staying at a shelter house with her three remaining daughters due to her fear of further threats from the Makhdooms; her husband has reportedlybecome mentally unstable and lives as a vagrant who asks strangers for the whereabouts of his daughter. We are told that the latest offer from the accused Makhdooms through the police is Rs50,000 (USD 625) and two acres of agricultural land.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below requesting a thorough investigation into the negligent police officials and the alleged perpetrators, including Lieutenant Colonel Nasir Shah.
The Asian Human Rights Commission has written to the Chairpersons of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, calling for their intervention into this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
RE: PAKISTAN: A young deaf domestic helper disappears from the home of an army official; police refuse to investigate
Name of victim:
1. Miss Muqaddus Bibi, 17 at the time of her disappearance; daughter of Allah Ditta and Ameeran Bibi, from the Mochi caste. Former resident of Moaza Jalla Makhdoom, Tehsil Kot Momin, Laksian police station, Lahore road, Sargodha district, Punjab.
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Lieutenant Colonel Nasir Shah, son of Syed Baqir Shah.
Resident of Multan Cantonment, Multan district, Punjab province.
2. Mian Mohammad Anwer Makhdoom
3. Mian Mohammad Saeed Makhdoom
4. Mian Mohammad Naveed
All three are sons of Makhdoom Abdul Hameed and residents of Moaza Jalla Makhdoom, Tehsil Kot Momin, Laksian police station, Lahore road, Sargodha district, Punjab province.
5. District police officer (DPO), Sargodha district, Punjab province.
6. Mr. Umer Hayat, Station Head Officer (SHO), Laksian police station, Lahore road,
Sargodha district, Punjab province.
7. Mr. Hameed Ullah Rokri, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Laksian police station, Lahore road, Sargodha district, Punjab province
8. Mr. Rana Mohammad Rafiq, Investigating Officer, Laksiyyan police station,
Sargodha district, Punjab province.
Date of incident: June 2006
Place of incident: Moaza Jalla Makhdoom, Tehsil Kot Momin, Lahore road,
Sargodha district, Punjab province.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the lack of investigation into the three year disappearance of a young, deaf domestic helper.
According to information provided by the victims mother and local NGOs, Miss Muqaddas Bibi worked in the house of the sons of Makhdoom Abdul Hameed a local landlord and influential politico-religious person for three years. In 2006, when she was 17, she was relieved from duty, but asked to return to help prepare for a wedding a few months later.
When the girl did not return, her mother, Ameeran Bibi, was told that she had been sent about 100km away to Multan to work for Makhdoom Abdul Hameed’ daughter (Javeria Shah) and her husband, Lt Col. Nasir Shah. Officers at Laksiyyan police station allegedly told the girl’s parents that they had no reason to worry, since the Makhdoom family is respected within the religious community.
I am told that after one year her parents report that they tried to file an official police complaint, but that it was rejected by the Station Head Officer (SHO), Mr. Umer Hayat. They filed a case against the Makhdoom family in the courts of Kot Momin and Laksiyyan police officials responded with statements (sent to various authorities and courts, among them the district police officer and the Nazim, or head of the local council) claiming that there was insufficient evidence for a case against the Makhdoom family.
On 27 September 2007 the Court of Peace and Justice ordered the District Police Officer of Sargodha to file a missing person report, which was not done, and although the accused were taken in for questioning by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hameed Ullah Rokri, they were released shortly afterwards without charge. I understand that Mrs. Ameeran Bibi then filed an application to the District Sessions Court Sargodha, which produced little result. A case was eventually filed after intervention from the Chief Minister of Punjab on 29 July 2009, yet no further investigation has taken place. Police contact with the family has instead reportedly involved the brokering of a deal and the delivering of threats from the Makhdoom family.
I am told that the latest offer from the alleged accused is Rs50,000 (USD 625) and two acres of agricultural land, in return for dropping the case. Due to the threats, the family are living in sheltered accommodation.
In response to queries by the Asian Human Rights Comission, (DSP) Hameed Ullah Rokri has claimed that he personally went to Multan and spoke to the suspected Lieutenant Colonel Nasir Shah about the whereabouts of Miss Muqaddas, and was told that she had been working at his house as a domestic helper but had run away. The DSP claims that he is satisfied by this explanation. When the AHRC asked the DSP why the army officer did not report her disappearance to the police, the question was ignored.
The recovery of Ms Muqaddas is the clear responsibility of the government. I call for a thorough, credible investigation to be made into the whereabouts of Ms. Muqaddas Bibi and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, with a view of ensuring her safe recovery. Should this not be possible, a murder investigation must be launched. The allegations of bribery and corruption of police officers by the Makhdoom warrant serious attention and legal action.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1.Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad, PAKISTAN,
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
Phone 92-51-9204801-9214171
Fax 92-51-9207458
2. Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
E-mail: pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
Tel: +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111
Fax: +92-51-9213700+92-51-9221714
3. Mr.Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +9251-9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
4. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
5. Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
6. Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
7. Mr. Salman Taseer
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
