Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the murder of Ms. Shamim Akhter (50), who worked for the Social Welfare organization in Tando Jam, Sindh province. She was brutally chopped to death by her husband Mr. Sajid Mahmood and Police Constable Usman Lodhi on 4 June 2013 (For further information, please see our recent urgent appeal: AHRC-UAC-092-2013).
Now, we have learned that Shamim’s younger sister, Ms. Tasleem Akhter, who was pursuing the murder case against the police and her deceased sister’s husband, has been murdered by three persons riding on a motor bike. Within 25 days, both sisters were murdered by an official of the same police station and his henchmen. The police still refuse to investigate both cases of murder. Tasleem and her nephew Ehtesham were constantly under threat by the local police officials to withdraw their case demanding an inquiry into the murder of her sister.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Ms. Tasleem Akhter (40), younger sister of slain women’s rights activist Ms. Shamim Akhter (50), was gunned down by three armed men at 11: 30 a.m. on 29 June when she was coming back from a court hearing for her petition filed to demand an inquiry into the murder of her sister. Her nephew Ehtesham (brother’s son) was travelling back with his aunt by rickshaw and, as they reached the densely populated area of Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market) Station Road, Hyderabad, he saw four persons, including police constable Usman Lodhi, Shahzad, Abdul Hameed and Shahid, come towards the rickshaw. Suddenly the four assailants stopped the rickshaw, dragged Tasleem out and shot her at close range, leaving her injured. She stood up immediately and shouted for help but the constable saw her standing and came back. He shot eight bullets into her body and ran away firing into the air.
The victim’s elder sister, Shamin Akhter, was punished by the police because she was always fighting against the police brutality. Shamim had raised awareness of the murder of a Hindu young man in the Gulashan Hali police station by brutal torture. She was also raising her voice against the police ill-treatment of young women.
After receiving the news of her murder, Mr. Shafiq Arain, the brother of Ms. Tasleem, took her body to the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hyderabad on Miran Shah Road and held a protest to arrest the killers, but none of the authorities came out. He took the body for autopsy to a hospital, but hospital authorities informed him that without a police report they could not attend to the body. He went back to the Gulshan Hali police station and told the police that, without their report, the autopsy could not be done. Police filed the FIR and the autopsy was conducted.
During the incident, Tasleem’s nephew Ehtesham (son of Shafiq), was miraculously saved despite the attackers shooting at him. The officials of Gulshan Hali police station are looking for Ehtesham to finally eliminate him as he is a witness to the murders of both sisters, his aunts. Mr. Shafiq Arain (Tasleem and Shamim’s brother) and other family members are constantly under threat from the police, particularly from Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khawar Gul and Constable Usman Lodhi. The women of the family have been threatened and they all are trapped in their houses.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write a letter to the following authorities, calling on them to initiate inquiries into the murders of two sisters by police constables and their henchmen. Please also urge them to prosecute the high-ranking police officials from Hyderabad who are preventing any action against the perpetrators and who are trying to eliminate all evidence and witnesses from the murder cases. The government must also ensure the security and safety of the victims’ family members who are under direct threats particularly Mr. Ehtesham, the nephew of the murdered ladies.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women calling for her intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ……………..,
PAKISTAN: Sister of the slain women rights defender also murdered by the same police constable
Name of victims:
1. Ms. Tasleem Akhter, 40, resident of House No 921 Hazara Colony, Hali Road, Hyderabad, Sindh, allegedly murdered by police and three henchmen
2. Mr. Ehtisham, nephew of the murdered sisters, resident of 924 Hazara Colony, American Quarter, Hyderabad, receiving constant threats from the alleged murderers
3. Mr. Shafiq Arain, brother of the murdered sisters, resident of 924 Hazara Colony, American Quarter, Hyderabad, receiving constant threats from the alleged murderers
4. Mr Rafiq Ahmed, resident of 924 Hazara Colony, American Quarter, Hyderabad, receiving constant threats from the alleged murderers
Names of the alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Usman Lodhi, Police Constable at Hali Road Police Station, Hyderabad, Sindh
2. Mr. Sajid Khan, resident of House No 921 Hazara Colony, Hali Road, Hyderabad, Sindh Province
3. Assistant Superintendent of Police/Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Cantonment, Hyderabad, Sindh
4. Station House Officer (SHO) of Hali Road police station
5. Senior Superintendent of Police, Hyderabad, Sindh
6. Mr. Shahzad (friend of police constable Usman Lodhi)
7. Mr. Abdul Hameed (friend of police constable Usman Lodhi)
8. Mr. Shahid (friend of police constable Usman Lodhi)
Date of incident: 29 June 2013
Place of incident: Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market) near Station Road, Hyderabad, Sindh
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the murders of two sisters, both killed within 25 days, by one police constable and his henchmen. On 4 June, Ms. Shamim Akhter was murdered by her husband and police constable Usman Lodhi. On 29 June, Ms. Tasleem Akhter, was murdered for pursuing justice for her sister.
I am shocked to learn that police officials from the Gulshan Hali police station have been given complete freedom by the Sindh police and Sindh government to kill citizens and eliminate the evidence.
I received the information that Ms. Tasleem Akhter (40), the younger sister of slain Ms. Shamim Akhter (50), was gunned down by three armed men at 11: 30 a.m. on 29 June when she was coming back from a court hearing for her petition filed to demand an inquiry into the murder of her sister. Her nephew Ehtesham was travelling back with his aunt by rickshaw and, as they reached the densely populated area of Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market) Station Road, Hyderabad, he saw four persons, including constable Usman Lodhi, Shahzad, Abdul Hameed and Shahid, come towards the rickshaw. Suddenly the four assailants stopped the rickshaw, dragged Tasleem out and shot her at close range, leaving her injured. She stood up immediately and shouted for help but the constable saw her standing and came back. He shot eight bullets into her body and ran away firing into the air.
The victim’s elder sister, Shamin Akhter, was punished by the police because she was always fighting against the police brutality. Shamim had raised awareness of the murder of a Hindu young man in the Gulashan Hali police station by brutal torture. She was also raising her voice against the police ill-treatment of young women.
I am shocked that when, after receiving the news of her murder, Mr. Shafiq Arain, the brother of Ms. Tasleem, took her body to the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hyderabad on Miran Shah Road and held a protest to arrest the killers, none of the authorities came out. He took the body for autopsy to a hospital, but hospital authorities informed him that without a police report they could not attend to the body. He went back to the Gulshan Hali police station and told the police that, without their report, the autopsy could not be done. Police filed the FIR and the autopsy was conducted.
During the incident, Tasleem’s nephew Ehtesham (son of Shafiq), was miraculously saved despite the attackers shooting at him. The officials of Gulshan Hali police station are looking for Ehtesham to finally eliminate him as he is a witness to the murders of both sisters, his aunts. Mr. Shafiq Arain (Tasleem and Shamim’s brother) and other family members are constantly under threat from the police, particularly from Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Khawar Gul and Constable Usman Lodhi. The women of the family have been threatened and they all are trapped in their houses.
I therefore call upon you to initiate inquiries into the murders of two sisters (both killed within 25 days) by police constables and their henchmen. I also urge you to prosecute the high-ranking police officials from Hyderabad who are preventing any action against the perpetrators and who are trying to eliminate all evidence and witnesses from the murder cases. The government must also ensure the security and safety of the victims’ family members who are under direct threats, particularly Mr. Ehtesham, the nephew of the murdered ladies.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92-51-9204801-9214171
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
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
3. Federal Minister of Law
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
4. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
5. Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan
Governor of Sindh province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 5043
Tel: +92 21 920 1201 +92 21 920 1201 +92 21 920 1201 +92 21 920 1201
E-mail: governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
6. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
7. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
