[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a mother and daughter were murdered on the pretext of honour killings on January 28, 2008. The mother’s son was forced by the father to take part in the killings. Now, the couple’s remaining children are in confinement and not allowed to go outside. Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased mother is in hiding and living in fear of being killed by the decision of the ‘Jirga‘ (a tribal assembly of elders).
CASE DETAILS:
Ms. Husna once attempted to commit suicide due to daily domestic violence by her husband. According to the information received, on January 28, 2008, Mr. Kaloo Jamali started beating his wife, Husna, accusing her of a relationship with others, which she had continuously denied. During the quarrel, Kaloo threw his rifle toward his son, Mr. Mujeeb Ur Rehman Jamali, and ordered him to kill her. Kaloo’s cousin, Mr. Hanif, loaded the rifle and gave it to Mujeeb, saying she is ‘Kari‘ (a black character).
Mujeeb fired two rounds and Ms. Husna fell to the ground. Her daughter, Saima, rushed into the room and stood Mujeeb and her mother. Mujeeb then fired at his sister, killing her. Kaloo told his neighbours who gathered after hearing the gunshots that his wife was ‘Kari’ and her daughter was also supporting her mother so both were killed in order to secure the honour and dignity of Jamali family.
On January 30, Kaloo went to Karimdad Lund Police Station, Khaipur Nathan and discussed the matter with police officers. A First Investigation Report (FIR) was lodged by his other son on the instigation of Kaloo, Mr. Mubeen Jamali, against his brother Mujeeb for the murder of his mother and sister.
Prior to this incident, Mr. Mohsin Channa, a known underworld figure in the area, abducted Kallo’s eldest daughter, Ms. Hakima, and sold her in Karachi, the largest commercial city of the country. Mr. Channa remained out of the area for almost two months and when he came back, he told Kaloo Jamali that it was not him who abducted his daughter but rather Mr. Anwar Jamali, the brother of Husna. It is believed that this story set Kaloo against Anwar Jamali and his wife Husna.
After the murder, Kaloo as the head of the Jamali family in the area, called a ‘Jirga‘ (a tribal assembly of elders). A decision was made against Anwar Jamali that he should be killed and all his business should be confiscated. Anwar escaped from an attack on his house and ran away from Khairpur Nathan Shah. Kaloo then took over all of Anwar’s businesses, which are two shops and his house. It is reported that Anwar is living in the remote area of Karachi and surviving for begging.
A core group of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) of Dadu District, a non-government organization, made a report after an investigation. Their report reveals that the police have failed to take proper action against Kaloo Jamali and that Anwar is innocent of the abduction. Mr. Ghulam Nabi Panhwar, the head of the core group demanded that Anwar Jamali be provided legal assistance and also physical protection and that the children of the deceased Husna also be provided with protection.
However, to-date, the police have never arrested Kaloo Jamali but instead arrested his cousin, Hanif, Mohsin Channa and the eldest son, Mujeeb. Hanif and Channa spent some hours in police custody before being released on bail but the Mujeeb remains under arrest.
Meanwhile, Anwar has written several letters to police and various authorities including the provincial ministry of human rights, Sindh, regarding protection for his family members and confiscation of his business, but to date no action has been taken.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
The courts of Pakistan, including the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court, have declared the ‘Jirga‘ as illegal and unconstitutional. Nonetheless, it is still a common practice in the feudal and tribal based areas. (Please refer to our previous appeals: AHRC-UAC-182-2008, AHRC-UAC-144-2008, UP-89-2007, UA-175-2005).
The Government of Pakistan has not taken any positive actions in order to eliminate discrimination against women and by allowing the Jirga system to continue are turning a blind eye to the incompatibilities of the judiciary system in Pakistan.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to authorities listed below expressing your concerns on the killings of two women on the pretext of honour killings and urge them to investigate this case and provide the children of the deceased and Anwar with protection.
The AHRC has also written separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women calling for immediate action in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
PAKISTAN: Murder of mother and daughter on the pretext of honour killing
Names of victims:
1. Ms. Husna Jamali; wife of Kaloo Jamali; died
2. Ms. Saima Jamali; daughter of Kaloo Jamali; died
3. Mr. Anwar Jamali; son of Hamal Jamali and brother of Husna Jamali
(All residing at village Karimdad Lund, Khaipur, Nathan Shah, Dadu District, Sindh province, Pakistan)
Names of person involved:
1. Mr. Kaloo Jamali; son of ARZ Mohammad Jamali
2. Mr. Mohsin Channa
3. Mr. M. Hanif; son of Lal Bux Jamali
4. Mr. Mujeeb Ur Rehman Jamali; son of Kaloo Jamali
(All are residing at village Karimdad Lund, Khaipur Nathan Shah road, taluqa Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu District, Sindh province, Pakistan)
5. Station police head officer (SHO) of Khairpur Nathan shah Police Station, District Dadu, Sindh province, Pakistan
Date of incident: 28 January 2008
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the murder of mother and daughter on the pretext of honour killing in Dadu District in which the police have so far failed to take proper investigation against the perpetrators.
According to the information that I have received, Mr. Kaloo Jamali assaulted his wife, Ms. Husna, who was the victim of continual assaults and who at one time attempted to commit suicide. Kaloo accused her of relationships with others in his residence on 28 January 2008 and at later stage of the quarrel, he ordered his elder son, Mr. Mujeeb to kill Husna. Kaloo’s rifle was loaded by a cousin, Mr. Hanif and handed to Mujeeb who shot and killed her. Mujeeb also killed his sister Ms. Saimia who tried to protect her mother. Kaloo told villagers who gathered that his wife and daughter were killed to secure the honour and dignity of the Jamali family.
On January 30, Kaloo went to Karimdad Lund Police Station, Khaipur Nathan and discussed the matter with police officers. A First Investigation Report (FIR) was lodged his other son, Mr. Mubeen Jamali, against his brother Mujeeb for the murder of his mother and sister.
Meanwhile, Kaloo called the ‘Jirga‘ which decided that Anwar Jamali, the brother of deceased Husna should be killed and all his business should be confiscated on the grounds that he was involved in abduction of Kaloo’s eldest daughter, Ms. Hakima, which in fact Mr. Mohsin Channa was reported to have been involved in the abduction. Even though Anwar escaped from the attack on his house after the decision by the ‘Jirga‘, he lost all his properties.
I am shocked to learn that since this incident, the police have failed to properly prosecute and punish those responsible for the murders according to law and even though the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court have already declared the ‘Jirga‘ as illegal and unconstitutional, this system is still functioning so that women are still at the risk of honour killing.
Thus, I urge you to investigate this case so that those responsible are properly prosecuted and punished according to law and also investigate the police officers who provide protection to the ‘Jirga‘ and followed its orders. Since the law enforcement agencies have respected and followed the decision of the ‘Jirga‘, there is hardly any room for the rule of law. That the government continues to allow Jirga‘s causes incompatibility in the judiciary system. It is not only the women in the country but also everyone including men who have suffered from the loss of their family members.
I further urge that Mr. Anwar be provided proper assistance to retrieve the properties that were confiscated by the decision of the ‘Jirga‘. Proper protection is required for Anwar as well as the children of the deceased, Husna. It will be a mockery if law enforcement authorities in Pakistan do not follow the decision from the court but that from the ‘Jirga‘
I trust that you will take proper action in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
——————–
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mohammad Mian Soomro
Acting President
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1422, 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
E-mail: (please see: http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx)
2. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani
Prime minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: 92-51-9221596
Tel: +92-51-9206111
E-mail: webmaster@infopak.gov.pk
3. Mr. Rehman Malik
Advisor for Ministry of Interior
Room No. 404, 4th Floor, R Block,
Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2624
Tel: +92 51 921 2026
E-mail: minister@interior.gov.pk
4. Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan
Governor of Sindh province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 5043
Tel: +92 21 920 1201
E-mail: governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
5. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister House
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
E-mail: pppsindh@yahoo.co
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
7. Ms. Nadia Gabol
Minister for Human Rights
Government of Sindh,
Pakistan secretariat, Barrack 92,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 9207043
Fax: +92 21 9207044
E-mail: lukshmil@yahoo.com
8. Secretary
(Criminal Prosecution) SGA &CD Department
Government of Sindh
Sindh Secretariat,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 9213327-6
Fax: +92 21 9213873
E-mail: secy.cpsd@sindh.gov.pk
9. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Mirza
Minister for Home
Government of Sindh
Barrack 79, Pakistan Secretariate
Near MPA hostel
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9204456
Tel: +92 21 9201920-1
E-mail: secy.home@sindh.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
