Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a young couple was murdered after they married in a court on their own choice. The local Panchayat decided to kill both, groom and bride, and father of the groom was ordered to handover a girl to the father of bride. The Panchayat decided to handover elder sister of the groom but a high police officer is forcing the family to handover the younger sister and had refuse to give guarantee of marriage with the girl saying it is up to the family of the bride to keep her in whatever way.
There are chances of bloody clashes between the different clans as police instigating the powerful family of the bride to change the event of honour killing into a personal fight so that the issues of honour killing and parallel judicial system should not be harmed.
CASE NARRATIVE: (Information received from International Human Rights Organisation, Pakpattan and the family members of the victims)
Miss Sana Bibi, aged 19, daughter of Choudry Noor Muhammad and Mr. Mohammad Amjad 18, son of Muhammad Ashraf, residents of Kameer, district Sahiwal, Punjab province, married in a civil court against the wish of the parents on 2 December 2012 in Karachi, 1500 kilometers away from their town. Sana was from Arain caste, a rich and powerful while Amjad, the groom, was from a peasant family. As the news of marriage reached to the parents of the girl, Sana, they pressured the father of the groom to call the couple and matter will be settled peacefully. As the couple arrived the girl, Miss Sana, was sent back to her parents as according to the understanding that she would not be punished and the family will arrange marriage in Islamic way.
The father of the Sana immediately arranged a Panchayat, the meeting of elders to run a parallel and illegal judiciary, under the leadership of for chief of the district council, Mr. Murtaza Chaudhry, a practicing lawyer and the former leader of PML-Q, the political party of General Musharaf’s and now local leader of ruling party PML-N. On the suggestions of father of the girl the Panchayat ordered Mr. Ashraf, father of the groom, to make unconditional apology on behalf of his son that he did a big mistake by marrying a girl from the tribal chief, second condition was that he should surrender his one daughter to the father of Sana in exchange of committing a horrendous and gross mistake of his son and the third condition was that his son, Mr. Amjad will not live in the community and if he was seen he would be killed. There were also Muslim leaders of nearby Mosques who endorsed the decision of the Panchayat.
The father of the groom had no option but to accept the conditions otherwise his entire family has to face dire consequences. The father got heart attack and he remained in hospital for some days. After his release from hospital again another session of Panchayat held on the request of Mosque leaders who said that father of the girl cannot keep the daughter of Ashraf without marriage so he should first marry her. The daughter’s age was 17 years while the father of the girl’s age is 60 year. At this moment father of the girl made fresh request that he is not interested in marriage and if he was forced he will marry with youngest daughter of Ashraf, who is 15 year old. Panchayat agreed that he can marry with youngest daughter.
In the meantime when the Panchayat was forcing the marriage of the youngest sister of the groom, Amjad, the family members of the girl decided to eliminate the groom so there should not be any resistance. Amjad was living in another town and, on 4 January 2014, he was trapped and was asked to come to Sana’s home as she was under sever torture and violence and might be killed. Amjad went to her village with his some relatives including women. As he arrived at Kameer village around seven persons were standing in the fields and they attacked and beat him. They tied Amjad with a tree and shot him in his legs. Then they dragged him to 500 meters and threw him outside the house of Sana. Sana also came out from the house to save Amjad, her husband; the attackers then opened fired on both of them and they died on the spot. Amjad received five bullet wounds while Sana received six.
According to plan, the mother of the girl was given in toxicants in the tea and she remained unconscious for hours and she did not know that her daughter was murdered at the door step.
A police party under Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ikram Khan reached along with Station House Officer (SHO) Model Police Station Dalwaryam District Pakpatan inspector Sheikh Aftab. Instead of collecting bodies and inspection of place of incident they talked with the father of the girl at his house and after dealing it was decided to hand over his son, Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, as accused of murder and other murderers will not be arrested and because of absence of sufficient evidences he would be released on bail within one year. Police took 10 hours to file First Information Report (FIR). The DSP Khan in presence of many person patted Tanvir for killing his sister in the name of honour.
Police in support of perpetrators forged the official documents and arrested the Ashraf, father of the groom, on charges creating law and order situation under Sections 107 and 151 of Pakistan Penal Code to pressure him not to file cases against perpetrators, Mosque leaders and police. The Model Police Station Dalwaryam, is using pressure tactics against the family members of groom and making it a case of fight between two groups by eliminating evidences through threats and intimidation.
The family of the groom remained continuously under threats from perpetrators and police. There are chances of killings as police are inciting the groups so that it can turn in to bloody clashes.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the following authorities calling for an independent investigation in the killing of a young couple in the name of honour. Please urge them to arrest and prosecute the police officers of Model Police Station Dalwaryam District Pakpatan particularly DSP Ikram Khan who does not allow the law to work. The members of Panchayat and mosque leaders must also be arrested for conduction illegal judiciary, allowing the perpetrators to fine the father of the victim to handover one girl as compensation for marriage on choice. The government must implement the law of the land and impunity should not be provided to the perpetrators including high police officers of the Dalwaryam.
The AHRC writes a separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and on violence against women, its causes and consequences calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
PAKISTAN: A love story ended in honour killing-the groom’s family was fined to handover one girl in exchange
Name of victim:
1. Miss Sana Bibi, 19, daughter of Choudry Noor Muhammad, residents of Kameer, district Sahiwal, Punjab province
2. Mr. Mohammad Amjad, 18, son of Muhammad Amjad, resident of Kameer, district Sahiwal, Punjab province
3. Muhammad Ashraf, son of Bashir Ahmad, resident of 107/D tehsil & District Pakpatan Punjab
4. Akhtar Ali, son of Muhammad Ashraf, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Pakpattan, Punjab
5. Muhammad Younas, son of Muhammad Ibrahim, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
6. Zafar Iqbal, son of Muhammad Ibrahim, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Tanvir Ahmad son of Noor Ahmad cast Arin, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
2. Muhammad Shafiq son of Abdul Ghani, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
3. Parvez Ahmad son of Abdul Ghani, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
4. Muhammad Akram son of Abdul Ghani, resident of 107/D Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
5. Muhammad Arshad son of Muhammad Ramzan, resident of Tehsil & District Pakpatan, Punjab
6. Ikram Khan Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP (SDPO) Sadar Circle District Pakpatan, Punjab
7. Inspector Sheikh Aftab, SHO Model Police Station Dalwaryam Pakpatan.
8. Sub Inspector Zaheer Ahmad (Investigation Incharge) Model Police Station Dalwaryam Pakpatan.
Date of incident: 4 January 2014,
Place of incident: Kameer, Sahiwal district, Punjab province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the killing of a young couple in the name of honour for marrying on their own choice. The couple was murdered on the orders of Panchyat, the illegal court system but still the holders of Panchayat are not held.
I am shocked to know that Panchayat has decided to hand over a girl from opposite party as slave. But more shocking is that the local Muslim leaders intervene and asked to marry the 15 years old girl with more than 60 old person as the best way to settle the issue of love marriage. In the 21st century in Punjab province such practices of giving punishment through the exchange of girls.
According to the information I have received Miss Sana Bibi (19), daughter of Choudry Noor Muhammad and Mr. Mohammad Amjad (18), son of Muhammad Amjad, residents of Kameer, district Sahiwal, Punjab province, married in a civil court against the wishes of their parents on 2 December 2012 in Karachi, 1500 kilometers away from their town. Sana was from the Arain caste who are in caste while Amjad, the groom, was from a peasant family. As the news of marriage reached to the parents of the girl, Sana, they pressured the father of the groom to call the couple so that the matter might be settled peacefully. As the couple arrived the girl, Miss Sana, was sent back to her parents as according to the understanding that she would not be punished and the family will arrange marriage in Islamic way.
The father of the Sana immediately arranged a Panchayat, the meeting of elders to run a parallel and illegal judiciary, under the leadership of the chief of the district council, Mr. Murtaza Chaudhry, a practicing lawyer and the former leader of PML-Q, the political party of General Musharaf’s, and now local leader of ruling party PML-N. On the suggestions of the girl’s father the Panchayat ordered Mr. Ashraf, father of the groom, to make an unconditional apology on behalf of his son that he had made a mistake by marrying a girl from the tribal chief, the second condition was that he should surrender his daughter to the father of Sana in exchange of committing a horrendous and gross mistake of his son and the third condition was that his son, Mr. Amjad will not live in the community and if he was seen he would be killed. There were also Muslim leaders of nearby Mosques who endorsed the decision of the Panchayat.
The father of the groom had no option but to accept the conditions otherwise his entire family would have to face dire consequences. The father suffered a heart attack and he remained in hospital for some days. After his release from hospital again another session of Panchayat was held at the request of the Mosque leaders who said that father of the girl cannot keep the daughter of Ashraf without marriage so he should first marry her. The daughter’s age was 17 years while the father of the girl’s age is 60. At this moment father of the girl made a fresh request that he was not interested in marriage and if he was forced he will marry the youngest daughter of Ashraf, who is 15 year old. The Panchayat agreed.
I am appalled to learn that in the meantime when the Panchayat was forcing the marriage of the youngest sister the groom, Amjad, the family members of the girl decided to eliminate the groom so there should not be any resistance. Amjad was living in another town and on 4 January 2014, he was trapped and was asked to come Sana’s home as she was under sever torture and violence and might be killed. Amjad went to her village with his some relatives including women. As he arrived at Kameer village around seven persons were standing in the fields and they attacked and beat him. They tied Amjad and shot him in his legs. Then they dragged him to 500 meters and threw him outside the house of Sana. Sana also came out from the house to save Amjad, her husband; the attackers then opened fired on both of them and they died on the spot. Amjad received five bullet wounds while Sana received six.
According to plan, the mother of the girl was given intoxicants in the tea and she remained unconscious for hours and she did not know that her daughter had been murdered at her door step.
A police party under Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ikram Khan along with Station House Officer (SHO) Model Police Station Dalwaryam District Pakpatan inspector Sheikh Aftab reached the scene. Instead of collecting the bodies and inspecting the place of the incident they talked with the father of the girl at his house and after dealing with him it was decided to hand over his son, Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, as the accused and that the other murderers will not be arrested and because of absence of sufficient evidences he would be released on bail within one year. Police took 10 hours to file First Information Report (FIR). The DSP Khan in the presence of many person praised Tanner for killing his sister in the name of honour.
The police in support of the perpetrators forged the official documents and arrested the Ashraf, father of the groom, on charges creating a law and order situation under section 107 and 151 of Pakistan Penal Code to pressure him not to file cases against perpetrators, Mosque leaders and police. The Model Police Station Dalwaryam, is using pressure tactics against the family members of groom and making it a case of fight between two groups by eliminating evidences through threats and intimidation.
It is shocking to learn that the family of the groom remains under continuous threats from perpetrators and police. There are chances of killings as police are inciting the groups so that it can turn in to bloody clashes.
I call upon you to ensure justice for these young people whose only crime was falling in love without the permission of their parents.
The elders of the Arian clan, the police officers involved and especially the people who convened the Panchayat must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I also urge to initiate an independent investigation in the killing of a young couple in the name of honour. The police officers of Model Police Station Dalwaryam District Pakpatan must be arrested and prosecuted particularly an inquiry must be conducted against DSP Ikram Khan who does not allow the law to work. The members of Panchayat and mosque leaders must also be arrested for conduction illegal judiciary, allowing the perpetrators to fine the father of the victim to handover one girl as compensation for marriage on choice. The government must implement the law of the land and impunity should not be provided to the perpetrators including high police officers of the Dalwaryam. The family members of the groom’s family must be provided protection from the perpetrators and local police.
I look forward to your urgent attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
3. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Federal Minister for Interior
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com or ministry.interior@gmail.com
5. Mr. Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road
Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk
6. Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister
Government of Punjab Province
Chief Minister’s Secretariat
5-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk
7. Mr. Pervez Rashid
Federal Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue, G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
8. Mr. Rana Mashood
Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
9. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
