Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned that a young woman who married freely last summer remains missing, along with her husband’s father and brother, after they were seen being abducted in October last year. According to the groom’s family no investigation into their disappearance has been carried out. Before her abduction the bride had taken out restraining orders against her relatives (which include a Major Zia Ullah) and the Sargodha police, as well as defending various allegations against her and her husband in court, though her husband was still arrested and is now in remand prison. Shortly after the groom’s father and brother were allegedly abducted and tortured by their in-laws, the bride was taken from her place of hiding and they have not been seen since. The case involves a gross miscarriage of justice and numerous violations on the part of the local police. The AHRC is extremely concerned for the safety of the missing persons.
CASE DETAILS: (According to a local NGO and other related sources)
According to information from the Star Welfare Organisation in Sargodha, Punjab, Miss Sajida Bibi, 22 (of Sargodha), freely married Mr. Mohammad Arshad, 28 (of Shekhupura), on June 13, 2008 in a Shekhupura civil court. The woman’s parents were against the marriage and Sajida Bibi left the house after being seriously threatened by them. She then filed a restraining order against her family under sections 22A and 22B of the criminal procedure code in the court of the Shekhupura Sessions Judge, about 150km from her hometown.
On June 18, two days before the decision of the court, her father, Mr. Saad Ullah, her uncle Mr. Ahmed Khan and others allegedly tried to kidnap her from the court premises, but failed. The order was granted and they were legally barred from harassing her further. It should be noted that Sajida Bibi’s first cousin is an influential army officer, Major Zia Ullah Khan of Rawalpindi Garrison.
Shortly after this case Sargodha police officers started threatening the couple. The bride again filed a case for protection before the Lahore high court on July 27, 2008 and on August 6 the court of Justice Saifur Rehman passed an order restraining Sargodha officers from harassing the pair.
Ahmed Khan, the bride’s uncle, then lodged a First Information Report (FIR: an official document for further legal proceedings) against the groom, the groom’s father Mohammad Aslam and his younger brother on August 13 in Cantt police station, Sargodha, claiming that they kidnapped Sajida Bibi. Khan also claimed that his daughter was already married and that she should therefore be punished under Hudood laws.
Arshad was arrested but his wife recorded a statement in his defence under section 164 of the criminal procedure code before Mr. Naeem Iqbal Syed, Special Judicial Magistrate, of Zila Kuchery, Lahore.
On October 23 before Mr. Jamshed Mubarak Bhatti, civil judge of Lahore in a family court, she then filed a case of defamation against her uncle and against a Fateh Khan, a Sub-Inspector who was allegedly claiming to be her husband, and whose brother (Inspector Nasr Ullah of the Lahore police) was also harassing her.
Two days later the father and brother of her husband (Aslam, son of Mohammad Liaquat Ali, and brother, Tahir, 22) were reportedly abducted by Saijida Bibi’s father, uncle, cousin (Major Zia Ullah) and Inspector Nasr Ullah. According to witnesses they were taken from the Solang Wala Dera bus stop at around 8pm on October 25 in two cars, one of which was black with the registration number MI 1432, from Shekhupura.
Sajida Bibi had gone into hiding after her husband’s arrest, but on October 27 we are told that Saijida Bibi, along with the two badly beaten abducted men, was taken from her place of hiding by her uncle and father. The three have been missing since.
On October 28 the grooms mother, Mrs. Zetoon Bibi, lodged FIR 1112/08 for the abduction of her husband, her son and her daughter-in-law in Cantt police Station. Since the alleged kidnappers have powerful connections among the police and military she is concerned that they have been, or will soon be killed. Zetoon Bibi has written more than a dozen letters to authorities, particularly the Punjab provincial government; she has not yet even received a reply.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities urging them to find and secure the safe release of Mohammad Arshads father, brother and his wife. The charges of forced marriage against him should be thoroughly investigated and if found to be fabricated, should be dropped. Please also demand that disciplinary and legal action be taken against the police and army officials involved in the harassment of these victims, and later, in the neglect of their case.
The AHRC has written to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances for its urgent intervention into this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PAKISTAN: The groom of a love marriage is unjustly jailed while his wife, father and brother are missing after their violent abduction by in-laws
Name of victims:
1. Mr. Mohammad Arshad, 29, son of Mohammad Aslam, Resident of Basti Qadirabad, Jandiala, Sher Khan Thana, Tehsil, Shekhupura, Punjab province.
Married to Sajida Bibi on June 13, 2008, arrested on August 13 and currently in Sargodha prison
2. Ms. Sajida Bibi, 23, bride of Arshad, resident of Basti Qadirabad, Jandiala, Sher Khan Thana,
Tehsil, Shekhupura, Punjab province.
Missing since October 25, 2008 after being abducted by relatives.
3. Mr. Mohammad Aslam, son of Liaquat Ali and father of Mohammad Arshad, resident of Basti Qadirabad, Jandiala, Sher Khan Thana, Tehsil, Shekhupura, Punjab province.
Abducted on October 23, 2008 and missing.
4. Mohammad Tahir, son of Mohammad Aslam, resident of Basti Qadirabad, Jandiala, Sher Khan Thana, Tehsil, Shekhupura, Punjab province.
Abducted on October 23, 2008 and missing since.
Name of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Saad Ullah Khan
Father of Sajida Bibi, resident of Moza Chadro, Tehsil, Essa Khel, Mianwali, Punjab province.
2. Mr. Ahmed Khan son of Rab Nawaz,
Uncle of Sajida Bibi, resident of house number 260, Gali number 29, old civil lines, near Cantt police station, Sargodha, Punjab
3. Major Zia Ullah Khan son of Shah Alam Khan, first cousin brother of Sajida Bibi, resident of Rawalpindi Cantonment, Punjab province
4. Inspector Nasr Ullah Khan, Punjab police, resident of Lahore, Punjab province
5. Dsitrict Police Officer, Sargodha district, Punjab province
6. Station House officer (SHO), Police station Cantt Sargodha, Punjab province
7. Fateh Khan, Sub-Inspector (I.O.), Police station Cantt Sargodha, Punjab province
Date of incident: 25 October 2008
Place of incident: Solag wala Dera bus stop in Shekhupura
I am shocked to hear that a young woman who married freely last summer remains missing, along with her husband’s father and brother, after they were seen being abducted in October last year by her relatives. According to the groom’s family no investigation into the disappearance of the three has been carried out.
Before her abduction the bride had taken out restraining orders against her relatives (which include a Major Zia Ullah) and the Sargodha police, as well as defending various allegations against her and her husband in court including one claiming that she was forced into marriage, and another claiming her to already be married. Despite her efforts her husband was still arrested and is now in remand prison.
Shortly after, the groom’s father and brother were allegedly abducted by the bride’s father, uncle, cousin (Major Zia Ullah) and Inspector Nasr Ullah. According to witnesses they were taken from the Solang Wala Dera bus stop at around 8pm on October 25 in two cars, one of which was black with the registration number MI 1432, from Shekhupura. The bride had gone into hiding after her husband’s arrest, but on October 27 we are told that Saijida Bibi, along with the two badly beaten abducted men, was taken from her place of hiding by her uncle and father. The three have been missing since.
The case indicates a gross miscarriage of justice and numerous violations on the part of the local police. On October 28 the grooms mother, Mrs. Zetoon Bibi, lodged FIR 1112/08 for the abduction of her husband, her son and her daughter-in-law in Cantt police Station. Since the alleged kidnappers have powerful connections among the police and military she is concerned that they have been, or will soon be killed. Zetoon Bibi has written more than a dozen letters to authorities, particularly the Punjab provincial government; she has not yet even received a reply. The AHRC is severely concerned for the safety of the missing persons.
An immediate operation, is needed to find and secure the safe release of Mohammad Arshads father, brother and his wife, Mr. Mohammad Aslam, Mohammad Tahir and Ms. Sajida Bibi. The charges of forced marriage against him should be thoroughly investigated and if found to be fabricated, should be dropped. Disciplinary and legal action also needs to be taken against the police, government and army officials involved in the harassment of these victims or later, in the neglect of their case.
The AHRC has written to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances for their urgent intervention into this case.
I look forward to your action in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1.Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani
Prime minister
Prime Minister House, Islamabad,
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
2. Minister for Interior
R Block Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
E-mail: ministry.interior@gmail.com or interior.complaintcell@gmail.com
3. Mr. Mian Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister of Punjab
H-180 Model Town, Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 5881383
4. Minister of Law
Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Ravi Road
Lahore
PAKISTAN
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk
5. Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab
Punjab Secretariat
Lahore
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 7324489
E-mail: chiefsecy@punjab.gov.pk
6. Mr. Salman Taseer
Governor of Punjab
Governor House
Mall Road, Lahore
PAKISTAN
7. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
