It was shocking to see Senator Israrullah Zehri from Balochistan informing the Senate on Friday that the killing or burial of women alive for ‘honour’ is a tribal tradition and should not be portrayed negatively. Responding to Senator Yasmeen Shah’s statement on reports of five women being buried alive in Balochistan in the name of honour, Zehri asked members not to politicise the issue, as it was a matter of safeguarding the tribal traditions. The women, three of whom were teenagers, were first shot and then thrown into a ditch. It was reported that they were still breathing as their bodies were covered with rocks and mud, and their only ‘crime’ was that they wished to marry men of their own choosing. Senator Zehri had the guts to defend such heinous act and said, “These are centuries-old traditions and I will continue to defend them.” “Only those who indulge in immoral acts should be afraid,” Senator Zehri added. As it is, this is an outrageous statement and coming from a Senator, it is totally unacceptable. Defending barbarism in the name of tribal ‘justice’ is a crime in itself. The Baloch Senator must immediately apologise to the nation for making such a statement.

Hundreds of women die each year in Pakistan as a result of honour killings. Many of the killings go unreported and in almost all cases the perpetrators, who are often close family members, go unpunished. These so-called ‘honour’ killings are based on ignorance and disregard of morals and laws. If a lawmaker of this country thinks that these cruel acts should not be highlighted ‘negatively’ in public and are justified, the future of this country indeed is bleak. Senator Zehri’s statement bears testimony to the fact that ours is a patriarchal system where ‘customs’ and ‘rules’ are based on male chauvinism and there is a complete disregard for humanitarianism.

Pakistan is still a male-dominated society where women are treated like a non-entity. Over here, violence against women takes a dismaying variety of forms, from domestic abuse and rape to child marriages and honour killings. All are violations of the most fundamental human rights. This is because Pakistani women face systematic discrimination from entrenched power relations that perpetuate the almost universal subordination of females. This leaves them highly vulnerable to being harmed physically, sexually or psychologically by the men in their families and communities. They live in fear of torture and violence, their basic human rights ignored. Our women have long fought for their rights. Despite this, violence against women usually goes unpunished. The situation about status of women in Pakistan is very bleak despite the allocation of 33 percent seats to women in parliament. Despite the presence of a law and the Women’s Protection Act, the incidents of violence against women have not decreased. The patriarchal mindset of society is full of refusal to recognise women as equal human beings deserving of equality, human rights and justice.

Raising awareness of the issue of violence against women, and educating boys and men to view women as valuable partners in life, in the development of a society and in the attainment of peace are just as important as taking legal steps to protect women’s human rights. Breaking the cycle of abuse will require concerted collaboration and action between governmental and non-governmental actors, including educators, health-care authorities, legislators, the judiciary and the media. A system based on equality and cooperation would lay the foundations for eliminating all forms of exploitation and oppression.

The Post

In the meantime, a man killed his wife over the charge of Karo-Kari and later surrendered before the police in the limits of the Abad police station, Sukkur, on Friday. Accused Kamil Jamali shot dead his wife Hajani with a pistol. The police said the accused had confessed to his crime.

The News International

Dozens of women activists here on Friday took out a rally and staged a demonstration against the Jirga system and called for legislation to eliminate it. The protests were held under the aegis of the Women Action Forum (WAF).

Holding placards in their hands in front of the Hyderabad Press Club, the protesting women chanted slogans against the Jirga system and demanded complete abolishment of the private court systems in Sindh.

The WAF Hyderabad office-bearers, Amar Sindhu, Irfana Mallah and others, told newsmen that a campaign was being launched here and more than 200 people had signed a banner against the Jirgas in one day.

They said the campaign would be extended to other cities and towns of the province. They called for action against those responsible for the Jirga decisions, adding that the police should also be made accountable for any decision in the Jirgas within their limits.

They said because of a delay in the provision of justice, tribal clashes were on the rise and this situation was leading towards deaths under the banner of honour killings. They said those holding the Jirgas should be arrested and action should be taken against them.

They demanded that legislation should be carried out in this regard in the Sindh Assembly and the directive of the Sindh High Court against the Jirgas should be implemented in letter and spirit. Awami Tehreek leader Rasool Bakhsh Palejo, lawyers, members of the civil society and journalists also participated in the campaign and signed the banner to oppose the Jirga system.

The News International

A Baloch tribal lord caught the upper house by surprise here on Friday when he came forward defending the honour killing of five women in Balochistan saying ‘these are our norms which should not be highlighted negatively’.

Baloch Senator Israr Ullah Zehri while aggressively interrupting Senator Bibi Yasmin Shah, who condemned the brutal act of burying alive five women in Balochistan on charges of ‘love marriage’, said it was part of their traditions, which, he said, should not be negatively highlighted.

Senator Bibi Yasmin Shah, however, continued and alleged that the government was not taking action against the culprits because of the involvement, as she said, of a PPP provincial minister in the incident. She demanded of the government to take strict action against the tribal elders involved in what she termed as a serious crime against humanity.

Jan Muhammad Jamali, Deputy Chairman Senate said that he could not comment over the issue as Baloch traditions did not allow him to comment over an incident occurred in another tribe. However, while addressing Bibi Yasmin Shah, Jamali said that raising voice over the like issues was easy in Islamabad but it was much difficult in Balochistan to argue over the same.

Moreover, as a rare example in the Upper House of the Parliament, where emotional speeches and exchange of harsh words between the treasury and opposition benches is common over routine issues, only Senators Kamil Ali Agha, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and Jamal Leghari supported Bibi Yasmin Shah while rest of the House kept mum or indifferent.

Leader of the Opposition, Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that no one could be allowed to practice such brutal traditions in presence of constitution and courts in the country. Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said that Islam allowed no one to commit such brutality in any capacity. Jamal Leghari termed the incident against the traditions and norms of Baloch people and demanded exemplary action against those involved in the heinous crime.

The Nation

Written by: Ms Khadijah Shah (Rays of Development Organization)

Lahore, Aug 25 2008: A 13 year old girl who was sold by her mother and step father to be a prostitute over a year ago was finally reunited with her father.

According to a press release issued by The Ansar Burney Trust here on Monday, Ansar Burney said Punjab Governor, Sulman Taseer, after appeals made by his trust, had ordered the Provincial Police officer to arrest those responsible and rescue other girls who were forced into prostitution along with the victim.

The case of Kiran who was subjected to verbal, physical and sexual abuse as well as forced slavery was first brought to the attention of the Ansar Burney Trust by the residents of Rawalpindi.

According to details Kiran was less than 12 years old when her real mother Allah Rakhi and step father Shaukat, both residents of Lahore, sold her to Perveen of Jhelum for Rs 100000 (US$ 1355.35).

According to fahad Burney, vice chairman of the trust, when kiran tried to resist, her mother beat her and left her with Perveen. At first, Kiran thought she would work as a mate at Perveen’s house, but later, she was physically abused and forced to be a prostitute by her buyer. Whenever she refused to provide “service” to Perveen’s clients, she was beaten either by Perveen or her clients. Sometimes, her own mother would come to the brothel to verbally and physically abuse her. Some how, she managed to save Rs 300 (US$ 4.05) and planned to flee to her real father, Javed, a street vender in Lahore.

On July 31, Kiran convinced a client that her mother had died and managed to leave his room at a hotel earlier than Perveen expected. She boarded a Rawalpindi, she met some humanitarians, who arranged a lawyer for her and she was brought before a judicial magistrate, who sent her to Darul Aman (shelter home), Rawalpindi.

Kiran remained in Darul Aman for nearly a month, without any FIR registered against her abusers, besides, no effort was made to trace her father. Finally, The Ansar Burney trust, when it heard about Kiran, launched a campaign to locate her father and ensure an action against her abuser.

According to the information received by the trust, Kiran’s father Javed read the story in a section of press about his daughter and immediately headed to Darul Aman, Rawalpindi, to take her home. “ She is now safe, living with her real father; away from all the abuse “ said Fahad Burney.

Meanwhile, on the request of the Ansar Burney Trust, Punjab Governor Sulman Taseer on Monday ordered the provincial police officer to take urgent action and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice, particularly Parveen and Kiran’s mother and her stepfather. The governor had also ordered action to rescue other underage girls, which Perveen was reportedly keeping in forced prostitution.

Fahad Burney thanked the Governor for showing concern for Kiran saying the government should never tolerate abuse of children.

Recommended By:

Ferhan Mazher,

Chairman,

Rays Of Development Organization, Sargodha, Pakistan.

Written by: Ms Khadijah Shah (Rays Of development Organization)

Gojra: Teenage girl of a laborer, Pervaiz Masih, resident of Chak No. 243 Gaf Bay, Kalianpur near Mongi Bangla, Gojra was abducted and raped by Kamran and Shahzad, resident of the same village.

Sader police has registered a case against the accused of the request of victim’s mother. Till now no accused is arrested. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Faisalabad and District Police Officer (DPO) Toba Tak Singh, Chaudary Riaz Nazir Gada has ordered the concerned police station to arrest the culprits as soon as possible.

Recommended by:

Ferhan Mazher,

Chairman,

Rays Of Development Organization, Sargodha, Pakistan.

Seven men were arrested on Tuesday after police foiled an attempt to give three innocent girls in marriage to settle a dispute following a karo-kari incident on the order of an illegal jirga held in Pano Akil on Monday.

Sukkur District Police Officer Sharjeel Kharal told journalists that police had received information that Mansoor Ahmed Jatoi of Sufi Muhalla in Pano Akil had declared that his wife Zangul had illicit relations with Amanullah Jatoi and killed her.

He said that an illegal jirga, presided over by Mubarak and Shaman Jatoi in Pano Akil, held Amanullah Jatoi guilty and fined him Rs120,000 and ordered him to give three daughters of his elder brother — Sumaira, one and half years, Miran, 2, and Mukhtaran, 4, in marriage to Mansoor Jatoi to resolve the dispute.

The DPO said that acting on the information, Pano Akil police immediately raided houses of the accused and arrested Mubarak Jatoi, Shaman Jatoi, Mansoor Jatoi, Mohammad Mithal, Mehram, Haji Mubarak and Jhangal. He said that Mansoor Jatoi had allegedly killed his wife a few days ago and buried her somewhere.

He said that holding jirgas had been banned by the court and no one would be allowed to violate the court order, adding that the girls had been taken into protective custody.

He appealed to human rights organisations and NGOS to come forward and help the girls.

Answering a question, the DPO said that Mansoor Jatoi had five sons but it had not been decided when the marriage would take place. The DPO also said the jirga had also decided that the three girls would be brought up by Mansoor Jatoi and would be married to three of his sons.

Pakistan Dawn

Written by: Ms Khadijah Shah (Rays of Development Organization)

Jahania:  Husband forced his wife to drink acid due to which she expired. According to our resources Rabia daughter of Muhammad Mushtaq alias Babo a resident of Model Town, Multan road, Jahania, was married to a gold smith, Muhammad Asif son of Muhammad Ramzan resident of Taba Sultanpur, 8 years ago. Their communion gave birth to three children; the youngest of the three is only 18 days old.

Asif was used to torture Rabia when ever she asked to meet her parents. One week ago she insisted to go to her parents home to participate in the funeral ceremony of her grandmother. In response Asif started beating her during which she fell from the stairs which caused injuries to her backbone.

On Friday she again insisted to go to her parents’ home, Asif coerced her to drink acid which caused her death. When Rabia’s parents arrived at Asif’s home after receiving the sad news, Asif told them that she had committed suicide. Asif insisted that Rabia should be buried in his town’s graveyard, but Rabia’s father wished to take her corpse to Jahania for burial.

Neighbors and relatives told Mushtaq that his daughter had been murdered by taking acid forcibly by Asif. They set a condition that if Mushtaq promise by putting hand on Holy Quran that he will not involve police than he can take his daughters dead body. Mushtaq agreed to this condition.

On Saturday at 02:30pm Rabia’s burial ceremony was being carried out secretly in 112 DUS-AR graveyard Multan road, Jahania, patrolling police passed by. When police asked about the details of the deceased girl, Mushtaq could not control himself and gave every detail to the police.

Muhammad Asif even did not bother to attend the funeral although his father Muhammad Ramzan was present there. Rabia’s mother, her younger sister and the ladies who gave last bath to Rabia told ROD that there were lot a scars and marks of violence on her body, blood was secreting from her mouth. Rabia’s mother told ROD that it was Asif’s routine to torture Rabia physicaly, but she continued living with Asif to save her children’s future and her home.

Recommended by:

Ferhan Mazher,

Chairman,

Rays Of Development Organization, Sargodha, Pakistan.

Written by: Ms Khadijah Shah (Rays of Development Organization)

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Young man shot dead over love marriage

NOWSHERA: A young man was gunned down in the main bazaar reportedly over love marriage. Babar Hussain told the local police that he and his brothers Israr Hussain and Jaffar Hussain were in the bazaar when Haji Zafar, Wajid and two unidentified accomplices opened fire on them, killing Israr on the spot.

He believed the deceased had married a daughter of Haji Zafar without the consent of her family. The police registered a case and arrested accused Zafar and Wajid.

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Youngster slaughtered his sister on the doubt of having illicit relationship

SARGODHA: A brother killed his sister with axe on the doubt of having illicit relations. According to the information, Mohammad Khalid who was living in Lakmor, killed his sister Razia Bibi and escaped from the place immediately. Police filed a case against Mohammad Khalid on the request of the victim’s brother Zafar Iqbal and the investigation started.

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50-year-old man due to ‘Watta-Satta’ gave a girl, 7, and married with a girl of 13

 (WATTA-SATTA is a tradition in which exchange of girls take place between two families for marriage)

MUNKERA: Lal, 50, was the son of Pyaara Qaum Dhabra, whose wife passed away last year. He gave the hand of her daughter, 7, to a boy of 16 and in her exchange on the very next day he himself got married to a 13 year old girl. The marriage ceremony was attended by the six sons and a daughter of Lal but due to disagreement, the neighbours refused to participate in the matrimonial ceremony.

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Murder of a woman for giving birth to girls. Husband, fake Pir get capital punishment

GUJRANWALA: Additional Sessions Judge Raja Arshad Mahmood awarded capital punishment to a man and his accomplice for killing his wife. According to the prosecution, Muhammad Asif with Nawaz, a counterfeit spiritual healer, had beaten to death his wife Shabana Bibi for giving birth to only girls at Farid Town on April 13 last year. The judge also fined them Rs 200,000 (US$ 2702.70) each. The Satellite Town police had registered a case against the accused on the complaint of Shabana’s mother Zohran Bibi.

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A corpse of young girl found

Mir Khan Khoso: Decomposed body of an unmarried young girl, missing since Aug 1 from her home in Mir Khan Khoso village, was found in the watercourse on the outskirts of village on Friday. Area people after spotting the body informed Sanjjar Bhatti police. It was handed over to the relatives and a case, on the complaint of Khatir Khan, uncle of the deceased girl, was registered against unidentified accused.

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Recommended by:

Ferhan Mazher,

Chairman (Rays of Development Organization, Sargodha, Pakistan)

Written by: Ms Khadijah Shah (Rays of Development Organization)

OKARA: A man slaughtered a woman over her refusal to marry him here on Wednesday; Kaneez Bibi was living with her parents after her squabble with her husband in Bibipur village.

The woman’s cousin Dastagir wanted to marry her and pressurized her to take divorce from her husband. On the day of the occurrence, when the woman refused to accept his proposal, he murdered her after cutting her throat with the knife.

Recommended by:

Ferhan Mazher,

Chairman (Rays of Development Organization, Sargodha, Pakistan)