UPDATE (Pakistan): Police inaction as threats continue against a victim’s family and human rights group 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received additional information about the killing of Irfan Khokhar in Pakistan (Refer to: UA-49-2004 and UP-24-2004). The victim’s family is still being threatened as are staff members of Peace Worldwide, who is helping the victim’s family. Irfan Khokhar, who was the information coordinator of Peace Worldwide, a Christian organization based in Islamabad, Pakistan, was murdered by three men on the night of 7 February 2004. Since his death, the victim’s family have been intimidated by Hafiz Atta ur Rehman, who is believed to be the primary suspect responsible for the killing.

According to the information we have received, on 14 June 2004, Samina Khokhar, the victim’s sister, again received death threats from two unknown men. When she was on the way to her workplace in Islamabad, two men followed her and stopped her near her office. One of the two showed her a pistol and told her to get in a car. When she refused, they tried to push her inside. At that time, a police vehicle approached so they drove away without Samina. Samina Khokhar had also been followed by two unknown men in Islamabad on 25 May 2004, who had called her workplace, saying that she would be killed because her family had not withdrawn the complaint against the three perpetrators of her brother’s murder, including Hafiz Atta ur Rehman. Imran Khokhar, the younger brother of Irfan Khokhar, has had to leave his home and is now hiding due to continuous threats.

In addition, on 20 June 2004, Aleem, chairman of Peace Worldwide received a anonymous call at his mobile phone saying, “If you do not leave the family of Irfan Khokhar, we will shoot you like Irfan.” Aleem reported that he and his staff received several threatening telephone calls since the attack on Irfan.

AHRC translated the two threat letters by the perpetrators, which are produced below. Even though no name is mentioned in the letters, the family believes Hafiz Atta ur Rehman sent these letters. They reported it and sent a copy of the letters to the police but they have not yet taken any serious action to investigate this serious matter. Although the Taxila police arrested one suspect Meherban Khan, but the other tw suspects– Hafiz Atta ur Rehman and Safdar Ali–are still at large. Moreover, the police have not taken any action to protect witnesses and the victim’s family.

[Letter 1]

Boota Masih (Ifran’s father), David Paul Maseh (Irfan’s uncle) and Mr. Javed Akhtar (An eyewitness when the police discovered the body of Ifran. He gave his statement to the court),,

Whatever was meant to lose has been lost, your son himself came to kill us. Whatever statement you are giving (to the authorities) is false. You and your witnesses are liars. You are accusing innocent people and cannot reach us. We have left our jobs and homes. It is good for you to finish this matter here (and not to pursue). By giving false testimonies and fabricating witnesses, you are creating problems for yourself. Keep this letter to yourself and think hard before testifying falsely because we know your hideouts. Our men visit your “Basti (the village)” to look for you regularly.

** You can see the original letter at: http://www.ahrchk.netimages/up-27-2004-letter1.gif

[Letter 2]

Mr. Khokhar,

If you people don’t take this case back, I will teach you a memorable lesson. If our friend get sentence (by the court), all of you will be destroyed. We will defame you in the whole district. Because your own son Imran (the victim’s younger brother) is involved in this murder, you might lose him. Now it is your choice.

** You can see the original letter at: http://www.ahrchk.netimages/up-27-2004-letter2.gif

In the meantime, on 18 June 2004, about 200 people protested against the blasphemy and other discriminative laws towards religious minorities organized by Peace Worldwide in front of the offices of the President and Prime Minister.

AHRC is deeply concerned by the continuous intimidation to the victim’s family and human rights defenders. We strongly call for the local authorities to provide full security to the victim’s family and eyewitnesses of the murder of Irfan Khokhar and conduct prompt inquiry into this matter.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Religious discrimination is inscribed in Pakistan’s blasphemy laws 295 B and C, whose violation brings severe punishment, including the death penalty, and is imbedded in societal structures. This has resulted over the years in religious intolerance and violence against Christians, Hindus and members of the Ahmadiye community, the imposition of discriminatory and repressive laws against religious minorities, and extremist attacks against religious minorities, especially Christians.

The laws in their present form are a source of victimization and persecution of the minorities in Pakistan who are often falsely accused and it was often used to settle personal vendettas and stifle political dissent. Even though vaguely defined, blasphemy carries a mandatory death sentence when against the prophet. As a result, many of the accused are killed, in some cases even before they are brought to trial. Furthermore, it has become virtually impossible to get a fair hearing for those charged under these laws in the prevalent environment of intolerance and of pressure exercised on the judiciary. Currently, if an individual goes to the police and simply accuses someone of blasphemy, the police have to make an immediate arrest before an investigation. Subsequently, the accused is subjected to inhuman, degrading and horrible forms of torture to confess.

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