Dear ____________,
PAKISTAN: Special investigation team sent to investigate the murder of a 13-year-old girl allegedly killed by her in-laws on the pretext of honour killing
Name of the victim: Koonjan, 13, a housewife
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Ahmedan Bangwar, the husband of the victim and a farmer
2. Todo Bangwar, son of Mughul and the father-in-law of the victim
3. Mehar Bangwar, son of Mughul and the uncle-in-law of the victim
4. Khalid Bangwar, son of Todo Bangwar and the brother-in-law of the victim
5. Rahmatullah Bangwar, son of Saamano and the victim's husband's relative
Name of the witnesses:
1. Todo Bahilkani, son of Qasim Bahilkani and the father of the victim
2. Bilawal Bahilkani, son of Waryo Bahilkani and the cousin of the victim's father
3. Rasool Bux, son of Waryo Bahilkani and the cousin of the victim's father
Date of incident: At around 8:30 pm on 4 March 2004
Case reported: Reported by Todo (Father of the victim), son of Qasim on 6 March 2004 at Karampur Police Station (FIR No. 15/04 Sections 302-210 PPC)
Place of incident: Kato Bangwar Village, Kandh Kot Town, Jaqcobabd District, Sindh Province, Pakistan
I write to applaud the President’s Office in Pakistan for acknowledging the seriousness of honour killings in the country and therefore sending its special investigation team (comprising of Major Nazar-ul-Islam, the Regional Director of the Human Rights Commission Sindh – Pakistan, and Gul Hassan Memon, the representative of the Regional Police Office in Sukkur) to investigate the murder of a young girl allegedly killed by her in-laws on the pretext of honour killing. Thirteen year old Koonjan was killed by her husband, Ahmedan and four of his relatives in Kato Bangwar Village, Kandh Kot Town, Jaqcobabd District, Sindh Province on 4 March 2004. In front of the victim’s father, Ahmedan shot Koonjan dead and then discarded her body, which has not been located since.
I am aware that the case has been withdrawn from police records, due to the Investigation Officer of Karampur Police, Mr. Sanaullah Sarki allegedly taking significant money from the perpetrators and pressuring the victim’s father to make a statement (OF 161) recording his daughter’s death due to illness. However, I hope with the arrival of the investigation team, Koonjan’s murder case will now re-open and justice will be sought for her and her family.
While I very much welcome this news I also ask that you please ensure that all steps are taken to allow the investigation team to properly investigate this case without any hindrance from the perpetrators or police officials involved. It is only with the guarantee of a thorough and impartial investigation, that this case will receive the justice that it deserves.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO:
1. General Pervez Musharraf
President
Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 4768, 92 51 920 1893 or 1853
E mail: CE@pak.gov.pk
2. Hon. Mr. Ishrat-ul- Ibad Khan
Governor
Government of Sindh
Governor House Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: + 92 21 9201201 – 3
E-mail: governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Asad Jahangir
Provincial Police Officer, Sindh Police
Central Police Office Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 9212626-7
Fax: +92 21 9212051
4. Mr. Tariq Saleem Lone
Regional Police Officer
Sukkur Region
Airport Road Sukkur
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 71 30547, 30248
Fax: +92 71 31824
5. Mr. Mehtab Hussain Shaikh
DPO Investigation
District Shikarpur
Police Head Quarters Shikarpur
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 761 515077, 512378
Fax: +92 761 512369
6. Mr. Fareed Jan Sarhandi
DPO District Shikarpur
Police Head Quarters Shikarpur
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92-761-515077, 512309
Fax 92-761-512369
7. Mr. Ghulam Hussian
DOP Investigation
District Shikarpur
Police Head Quarters Shikarpur
PAKISTAN
Tel: + 92 761 515077,512378
Fax: +92 761 512369
8. 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
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
