Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned that authorities in North West Frontier province have taken no action to arrange urgently-needed protection for a man, his sister-in-law and her young son; all are in immediate danger of being murdered as a response to a love marriage, and three murders have already taken place. The groom and two of his brothers have all been systematically killed, yet despite evidence identifying the two men responsible, no reports to the police have been investigated in any way. The remaining brother has now been warned that he will be killed unless he gives up the whereabouts of the bride and her young son. This case, and the refusal of police to act on it, has been ongoing since 2006.
CASE DETAILS:
According to information provided by the family of the victims and the Star Welfare Organisation, Ms. Gohar Taj was severely beaten by her brothers and taken to a remote part of the province in 2006 when she told her family that she wished to marry Fazal Subhan. Even so, the two went ahead with a court marriage on 13 December 2006 and had a child.
Since then a member of Fazal’s family has been murdered every year, coinciding with the annual return of Gohar’s younger brother Israel, who works in Dubai. The murders were preceded with threats from him and his elder brother Ismail.
On September 17, 2007 Mr. Said ur Reman, a brother of the groom, was threatened and killed; a murder case was lodged at Akbarpura police station through First Information Report no.173/2007. No investigative action was taken. On December 4, 2008, shortly before Israel’s return to Dubai from Pakistan the groom, Fazal, was found murdered. A murder case was lodged with the same police station, FIR no. 239/ 08; no investigation was launched. The groom’s third brother, Sarwar Khan, was murdered just three months ago on 29 December 2009 during another visit from the suspected perpetrator. The FIR no. 513/09 was again lodged with the Akbarpura police, with no follow up action taken. All three were reportedly murdered within 100m of the police station.
The AHRC has been informed that the bride herself, who has a young son, has escaped kidnap attempts by the brothers, who have told her of their intention to kill her; however complaints to the local police were not taken up to any degree. We have learned that Israel is now in Pakistan again and has already sent a message to the grooms family demanding that they hand over Ms. Gohar or their last surviving son, Abdul Haleem Khan, will also be killed. The victims are again receiving no protection or response from the authorities.
Complaints and pleas have been written to offcials at various district levels, among them the district police officer (DPO), about the lack of action being taken at Akbapura police station under Station Head Officer Mr. Jehan Zeb Khan. We have learned that this officer was once transferred from his post but returned to it approximately two months later. We are also told that Ismail and Israel have an extensive criminal reputation in the area, and that local residents accuse them of collaboration with the local police. The information above would strongly indicate that this is so.
The AHRC would like to express its shock and disbelief at the state of a system that allows the systematic elimination of a family over five years to go unaddressed in any way. Immediate accountability must be accepted from a provincial government that has allowed such an erosion of the rule of law, police procedure and governmental authority in this district, to the clear and brutal detriment of its civilians. In any marginally functional system there are checks and balances that allow victims of violations to find protection or redress at some level. In Akbapura, NWFP, it appears that there is nothing.
A high level investigation must be immediately launched into how such a lawless vacuum has been able to form in this area despite the presence of persons claiming to enforce the law. All those in positions of responsibility in this area must be investigated and held to legal account in strong and transparent criminal proceedings; the suspected murderers themselves must be immediately investigated and charged, and their surviving victims provided with protection.
It is extremely clear that not enough attention or political will is being given to police corruption and negligence in Pakistan, particularly when it comes to protecting women who face violence for choosing their marriage partner. This indifference is unforgivable and it is doing untold damage. For further such cases documented recently by the AHRC please refer to UAC-003-2010, UAC-120-2009 and UAC-182-2008 and or to our urgent appeal archive using keywords ‘Pakistan’ and ‘love marriage’.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listing below urging an immediate and effective response, starting with the highest level of protection and support for all those under threat. Those clearly shown to be involved in the murders and in the protection of the murderers must be arrested and remanded while they face a criminal trial, in which the strongest penalties must be imposed by a competent criminal court.
The AHRC has written a separate letter to UN special rapporteur on the elimination of violence against women, requesting their intervention into this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PAKISTAN: Urgent protection needed for the suvivors of love marriage-related murders; police refuse to investigate
Name of victims:
1. Ms. Gohar Taj
2. Abdul Haleem Khan
3. Mr. Said ur Reman (deceased)
4. Sarwar Khan (deceased)
5. Fazal Subhan (deceased)
All resident of Akbarpura, Zakhi Miana, Nowshera district, North West Frontier province
Name of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Ismail, son of Badshah Gul; resident of Akbarpura, Zakhi Miana, Nowshera district
North West Frontier province.
2. Mr. Israel, son of Badshah Gul; resident of Akbarpura, Zakhi Miana,
Nowshera district, North West Frontier province; working in Dubai
3. Inspector Jehan Zeb Khan, Station Head Officer (SHO) of Akbarpura police Station,
Akbarpura, Zakhi Miana, Nowshera district, North West Frontier province
Date of incident: From December 2006 to present
Place of incident: Akbarpura, Zakhi Miana, Nowshera district, North West Frontier province
I am writing to express my horror and disbelief at the lack of action taken by the authorities in the North Western Frontier Pronvince, to protect a man, his sister-in-law and her young son; all are in immediate danger of being murdered as a response to a love marriage, and three murders have already taken place.
According to information I have received, Ms. Gohar Taj married Mr. Fazal Subhan in court on 13 December 2006 of her own free will, despite being badly beaten by her brothers, who opposed her choice. The couple later had a child.
Since then a member of the groom’s family has been murdered every year, coinciding with the annual return of Ms. Gohar’s younger brother Israel, who works in Dubai. The murders were preceded with threats from him and his elder brother Ismail, and have each reportedly occurred within 100m from the local police station.
On September 17, 2007 Mr. Said ur Reman, a brother of the groom, was threatened and killed; a murder case was lodged at Akbarpura police station through First Information Report no.173/2007. No investigative action was taken. On December 4, 2008, shortly before Israel’s return to Dubai from Pakistan the groom, Fazal, was found murdered. A murder case was lodged with the same police station, FIR no. 239/ 08; no investigation was launched. The groom’s third brother, Sarwar, was murdered just three months ago on 29 December 2009 during another visit from the suspected perpetrator. The FIR no. 513/09 was again lodged with the Akbarpura police, with no follow up action taken.
I am informed that the bride herself has escaped kidnap attempts by the brothers, who have told her of their intention to kill her; however complaints to the local police were not taken up to any degree. I now hear that Israel is in Pakistan and has already sent a message to the grooms family demanding that they hand over Ms. Gohar or their last surviving son will also be killed. The victims are again receiving no protection or response from the authorities; access to their country’s legal system is being systematically and brutally denied them.
Complaints and pleas have been written to police officers at various district levels, among them the district police officer (DPO), about the lack of action being taken at Akbapura police station under Station Head Officer Mr. Jehan Zeb Khan. I understand that this officer was once transferred from his post, but returned to it approximately two months later. I am also told that Ismail and Israel have an extensive criminal reputation in the area, and that local residents accuse them of collaboration with the local police. The information above would strongly indicate that this is so.
I am deeply concerned at the state of a system that allows the systematic elimination of a family over five years to go unaddressed in any way. Immediate accountability must be accepted from a provincial government that has allowed such an erosion of the rule of law, police procedure and governmental authority in this district. In any marginally functional system there are checks and balances that allow victims of violations to find protection or redress at some level. In Akbapura, NWFP, it appears that there is nothing.
An immediate and effective response is required, starting with the highest level of protection and support for all those under threat in this incident. Those clearly shown to be involved in the murders must be arrested and remanded while they face a criminal trial, in which the strongest penalties must be imposed by a competent criminal court.
Furthermore a high level investigation must be immediately launched into how such a lawless vacuum has been able to form in this area despite the presence of persons claiming to enforce the law. All those in positions of responsibility in this area must be investigated and held to legal account.
It is extremely clear that not enough attention or political will is being given to police corruption and negligence in Pakistan, particularly when it comes to women who face violence for choosing their marriage partner. This indifference is unforgivable and it is doing untold damage.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Ameer Haider Khan Hoti,
Chief Minister
Government of North West Frontier Province
Peshawar-PAKISTAN
Phone numbers: +92-919213574 9211719
FAX number: +92-91-9210707
Email:manager@nwfp.gov.pk
2. Mr. Rehman Malik
Minister of Interior
Room No. 404, 4th Floor, R Block,
Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2624
Tel: +92 51 9921 2026
E-mail: minister@interior.gov.pk
3. Dr, Babar Awan,
Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights
S Block Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad -PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9920 2628
E-mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk or naelaw786@hotmail.com
4. Mr. Basheer Ahmed Bilor
Senior minister
Government of North West Frontier Province
Peshawar
Pakistan
Fax: +92 91 921 2533
______________________
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
