Dear friends,
It has come to the attention of Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that another killing of a young woman has taken place in Pakistan under the allegation of honor killing. According to our sources, the accusation is likely to be composed by motives of economical interests on behalf of the man who committed the murder against his own wife, accusing her of illicit sexual relations.
The perpetrator is to date still free and there seems to be proper investigation as yet.
It is of urgent nature that the fundamental problem of women’s security in Pakistan is appropriately addressed at the highest speed. A thorough and independent inquiry must be launched and the circumstances surrounding the death of this young woman to be revealed. The perpetrator, who still is free, must be brought to justice according to the law and any settling of the matter in a tribal jirga must be prohibited.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:
Name of the victim: Ms. Khairan (23), of Sadhayo tribe, married
Alleged perpetrator: Ghulam Hussain alias Bhutto, son of Shafi Mohammad Sadhayo, the victim’s husband
Complainant: Sher Mohammad, son of Mohammad Paryal, of Sadhayo tribe, the victim’s brother, resides of Chodhiyo Sadhayo village
Witnesses: (Including the Complainant) Mohammad Nawaz and Shafi Mohammad, both of Sadhayo tribe, sons of Mohammad Aadam, relatives of the complainant.
Date of incident: At around 4:30 p.m. on 9 June 2004
Case reported on: 6:06 p.m. on 9 June 2004 at Jagan Police Station at Humaayoon
Place of Incident: Shahul Sadhayo Village near Humayoon Town, Shikarpur District, Sindh Province, Pakistan
Case Details:
On 9 June 2004, Ghulam Hussain shot his wife Khairan dead at their home in Shahul Sadhayo Village. He accused her of having sexual relations with one of his relatives, Illahi Bux.
Illahi Bux works in another city and has according to Sher Mohammad, the victim’s brother, nothing to do with what he has been accused of but thinks his relative’s accusations are baseless.
The First Information Report (FIR NO. 28/2004 Section 302 Pakistan Penal Code) was lodged by the victim’s brother on 9 June 2004 at Jagan Police Station at Humayoon. In the FIR the victim’s brother has mentioned that he had given his sister in marriage with Ghulam Hussain some 7/8 years ago. In the afternoon of 9 June 2004, the victim’s brother and his two relatives Mohammad Nawaz and Shafi Mohammad went to Shahul Sadhayo Village to meet her. Upon arrival they were asked to sit and wait outside the house. Sometime later, at about 4:30 pm, the victim’s brother and the other witnesses heard bullet fires from inside. They all ran inside where they saw Ghulam Hussain holding a rifle and straightly firing at his wife Khairan. They urged him to stop, but instead he pointed the weapon at them and warned them to stay away. He said that his wife had engaged in sexual relations with a certain Illahi Bux and that he would not let her live anymore. Having said that, Ghulam Hussain fled from the spot. After a few moments, when the witnesses reached Ms. Khairan, they saw that the bullets hit her on the chest, right shoulder and right leg. She was bleeding heavily and they realized she already died. They then went to the Jagan Police and reported the incident.
The victim’s brother claims that his brother-in-law only accused his wife of infidelity so that the allegation of honor killing would enable him to put economic pressure on Illahi Bux. According to our sources, the brother believes that his brother-in-law wants to extract a heavy compensation from Illahi Bux to make up for his behavior.
Apparently, Illahi Bux and his family moved to a secure place after the incident in order to save their lives. The police has made raids and arrested certain family members of the accused, but the main accused, Ghulam Hussain, remains free.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to following addresses and express your concern about this serious case.
1. General Pervez Musharraf
President
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
Email: CE@pak.gov.pk
2.Hon. Mr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan
Governor Govt. of Sindh
Governor House Karachi
Tel: +92 21 9201201-3
E-mail: governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Sayed Kamal Shah
Provincial Police Officer, Sindh Police
Central Police Office Karachi
Tel: +92 21 9212626-7
Fax: +92 21 9212051
4. Mr. Rahoo Khan Brohi
Regional Police Officer
Sukkur Region
Airport Road Sukkur
Tel: +92 71 30547, 30248
Fax: +92 71 31824
5. Syed Sultan Shah
Joint Secretary for Law, Justice and Human Rights
Tel: + 92 51 920 3464
Fax: + 92 51 9203119
6. Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
OHCHR-UNOG
Palais Wilson, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix,
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: 41 22 917 9022
7.Mr. Khameso Khan Memon
DPO Operation,
District Shikarpur,
Police Head Quarters Shikarpur
Ph. 92-761-515077, 512309
Fax. 92-761-512369
8.Mr. Fida Hussain Mastoi
DPO Investigation
District Shikarpur,
Police Head Quarters Shikarpur
Ph. 92-761-515077, 512378
Fax. 92-761-512369
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear,
Re: PAKISTAN: 23-years-old women killed in alleged "honor killing" drama
Name of the victim: Ms. Khairan (23), of Sadhayo tribe, married
Alleged perpetrator: Ghulam Hussain alias Bhutto, son of Shafi Mohammad Sadhayo, the victim's husband
Complainant: Sher Mohammad, son of Mohammad Paryal, of Sadhayo tribe, the victim's brother, resides of Chodhiyo Sadhayo village
Witnesses: (Including the Complainant) Mohammad Nawaz and Shafi Mohammad, both of Sadhayo tribe, sons of Mohammad Aadam, relatives of the complainant
Date of incident: At around 4:30 p.m. on 9 June 2004
Case reported on: 6:06 p.m. on 9 June 2004 at Jagan Police Station at Humaayoon
Place of Incident: Shahul Sadhayo Village near Humayoon Town, Shikarpur District, Sindh Province, Pakistan
I have learned that a young women, Ms. Khairan, was brutally shot at her home in Shahul Sadhayo Village by her husband on 9 June 2004. Her husband was accusing her of having engaged in sexual relations with a relative of his.
It seems however that the circumstances surrounding the women's death are different, and there is allegation that the accused murderer was only out after a possibility of pressurizing the relative he was accusing of illicit relation to pay a heavy monetary compensation. This would risk of being settled in a jirga court. We urge you therefore to prohibit a tribal jirga and handle the case in accordance with the law.
I demand a thorough and independent inquiry into this case, and I demand that the circumstances surrounding the death of this young woman are revealed accordingly. The perpetrator, who still is free, must also be brought to justice at the very quickest.
It is long that Pakistan is battling with the phenomenon of honor killings, and while the background of this case might not correspond with the criteria set out for this definition, the root cause of women's bad situation must be acutely acted against.
Again, Pakistan must comply with the regulations it has observed by becoming a state party of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
We are gravely concerned by the fact that women in Pakistan on a very common basis become victims of family related disputes, interests and pressure that often lead to their deaths. It manifests a collapse of law and the absence of basic social stability and prosperity.
Thank you for your kind attention.
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Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
