Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the death threats against a lady teacher and her husband after a senior police officer initiated an inquiry on the Urgent Appeal and proceeded to exonerate all the perpetrators. One member of the National Assembly from Sindh provincial ruling party allegedly used his influence on police to release all the perpetrators. The cousin brother of the lady teacher with his friends have been informed by the police about the hideout of the teacher and her husband; they have threatened that she should be ready to face an honour killing.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Mrs. Khanzadi, 23, wife of Mehboob Ali Lohr, resident of Jacobabad, Sindh, a schoolteacher, has been declared Kari (liable to be killed in the name of “honour”) for establishing a primary girls’ school in a feudal area. She was earlier kidnapped by her maternal uncle and detained there for two months, where she was tortured and asked to wind up the school and turn it into a place of recreation for powerful people of Jacobabad District. Her male family members, with the connivance of a tribal leader of her caste, have allegedly hired four killers to murder her and her husband in the name of “honour”. The school has been turned into recreational venue for powerful people and the Education Department of Sindh has remained a silent spectator, denying education to around 200 girls.
After issuance of our urgent appeal (See: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-120-2016), the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police, Mr. Abdullah Sheikh initiated an inquiry/investigation into the case; the lady teacher and Station House Officer (SHO), Sub Inspector Abdul Aziz Quereshi from Jacobabad, and other police officials, including the perpetrators, were questioned.
According to the inquiry, it is said that the lady teacher was a part-time teacher at a government school run by an NGO. The school is working as usual and it is not closed; children are studying there. Her family members were not happy, as she had married a person not approved by her family. The local police say that Khanzadi married after eloping with Mehboob Ali, who was already married. The enquiry concludes that she wants to grab the school illegally, and that there is no report that she is receiving any threats of honour killing.
After the police inquiry, all the arrested persons were released immediately after they had hardly remained in Police Station for 18 hours. It is accused that one member of the National Assembly from the provincial ruling party, Mr. Aijaz Jhakrani, allegedly used his position for the release of all arrested persons. But police officers deny any such effort.
The victim, Ms. Khanzadi, went to Larkana City, 300 kilometers from Karachi, to attend the inquiry/investigation. Her family members threatened her as did the men sent by the chief of the Lohr tribe to cancel her marriage and settle down at her parent’s village. According to Khanzadi, she was followed by some persons when she was returning back to the Karachi, her hiding place, and she saw one of her cousins in the neighbourhood. She is afraid that she would be killed as she has been receiving threats of suffering an honour killing.
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SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the following authorities calling them to provide protection to the lady schoolteacher, Mrs. Khanzadi Lohr, wife of Mehboob Ali, who, along with her husband, is facing threat of honour killing for establishing a school. There must be an independent inquiry free of police influence. The victims must be provided a safe environment for returning back to their home. The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Violence against Women, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question on the right to education, calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: Life of lady teacher in danger as police release perpetrators without producing them in court
Names of victims:
1. Ms. Khanzadi Mehboob Ali Lohr, resident of Village Qadir Bux Lohr Baloch, Tehseel Garhi Khairo, District Jacobabad, Sindh
2. Mr. Mehboob Ali Lohr, resident of Village Qadir Bux Lohr Baloch, Tehseel Garhi Khairo, District Jacobabad, Sindh
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Mehar Dil Lohr, resident of Tehseel Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad.
2. Mr. Mohammad Yasin Lohr, resident of Tehseel Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad
3. Wadera Mir Folad Khad Khan Lohr, resident of Tehseel Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad
4. Sardar Mirdad Mohammad Lohr, Mr. Nawab Khan Lohr, resident of Tehseel Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad
Date of incident: 6 March 2015
Place of incident: Garhi Khairo, District Jacobabad.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the death threats to the lady teacher and her husband after a senior police officer initiated an inquiry on the Urgent Appeal issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission and proceeded to exonerate all the perpetrators. One member of the National Assembly from a Sindh provincial ruling party allegedly used his influence on police to release all the perpetrators. The cousin brother of the lady teacher and his friends have been informed by the police about the hide-out of the teacher and her husband and they are threatening her that she should be ready to suffer an “honour” killing.
Mrs. Khanzadi, 23, wife of Mehboob Ali Lohr, resident of Jacobabad, Sindh, a schoolteacher, has been declared Kari (liable to be killed in the name of “honour”) for establishing a primary girls’ school in a feudal area. She was earlier kidnapped by her maternal uncle and detained there for two months, where she was tortured and asked to wind up the school and turn it into a place of recreation for powerful people of Jacobabad District. Her male family members, with the connivance of a tribal leader of her caste, have allegedly hired four killers to murder her and her husband in the name of “honour”. The school has been turned into recreational venue for powerful people and the Education Department of Sindh has remained a silent spectator, denying education to around 200 girls.
After issuance of our urgent appeal (See: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-120-2016), the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police, Mr. Abdullah Sheikh initiated an inquiry/investigation into the case; the lady teacher and Station House Officer (SHO), Sub Inspector Abdul Aziz Quereshi from Jacobabad, and other police officials, including the perpetrators, were questioned.
According to the inquiry, it is said that the lady teacher was a part-time teacher at a government school run by an NGO. The school is working as usual and it is not closed; children are studying there. Her family members were not happy, as she had married a person not approved by her family. The local police say that Khanzadi married after eloping with Mehboob Ali, who was already married. The enquiry concludes that she wants to grab the school illegally, and that there is no report that she is receiving any threats of honour killing.
After the police inquiry, all the arrested persons were released immediately after they had hardly remained in Police Station for 18 hours. It is accused that one member of the National Assembly from the provincial ruling party, Mr. Aijaz Jhakrani, allegedly used his position for the release of all arrested persons. But police officers deny any such effort.
The victim, Ms. Khanzadi, went to Larkana City, 300 kilometers from Karachi, to attend the inquiry/investigation. Her family members threatened her as did the men sent by the chief of the Lohr tribe to cancel her marriage and settle down at her parent’s village. According to Khanzadi, she was followed by some persons when she was returning back to the Karachi, her hiding place, and she saw one of her cousins in the neighbourhood. She is afraid that she would be killed as she has been receiving threats of suffering an honour killing.
I, therefore call upon you to provide protection to the lady schoolteacher, Mrs. Khanzadi Lohr, wife of Mehboob Ali, who, along with her husband, is facing threat of honour killing for establishing a school. There must be an independent inquiry free of police influence. The victims must be provided a safe environment for returning back to their home.
Yours Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1.Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111, +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Mr. Murad Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Minister
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4. Mr. Kamran Michael
Minister For Human Rights
Through Secretary, Ministry of Human Right
ministry of human rights
State Life Building No. 5, Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue, China Chowk,
Islamabad
Tel: 051-9216620,
Fax: 051-9216621,
Email: secretary@mohr.gov.pk
5. Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
7. Home minister,
Government of Sindh
Barrack 79, Pakistan Secretariat
Near MPA hostel
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9204456
Tel: +92 21 9201920-1
E-mail: secy.home@sindh.gov.pk
8. Justice Majida Rizvi
Regional Directorate of Human Rights,
Block no. 5, Sindh Secretariat No.4-A, Frere Road, Karachi.
Ph: 92-21-99205835
Fax: 92-21-99205837
Email: justicerazvi@hotmail.com
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
