Woman murdered in karo-kari incident
The Women’s Action Forum (WAF) on Friday issued a condemnation of the murder of a woman under the pretext of karo-kari in Allah Bachayo Noonari village in Hyderabad.
The forum also expressed grave concern over the fact that despite the presence of a women police station and protection cell, as well as a women’s shelter home in the area, Rehana Solangi’s fate was placed in the hands of a jirga that imposed a penalty of Rs. 100,000 and ordered the woman to return to the same house where she was eventually killed for ‘honour’.
WAF further demanded the registration of a case against those involved in the incident on behalf of the state in order to prevent an out-of-court settlement.
Two of 12 suspects in gang rape case arrested
Layyah district police on Friday claimed to have arrested two of 12 suspects involved in gang-raping and filming a young woman on August 5.
The survivor’s father complained to the police that 12 individuals, eight of whom were nominated in the case while the remaining four are unidentified, took his daughter to an unknown place near Thal Medical College at gunpoint where they gang-raped her. The accused also filmed the ordeal.
Police state that two of the nominated suspects have been detained for interrogation while investigation remains ongoing. DNA samples collected from the rape survivor have been sent for forensic analysis.
Taking note of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi ordered the immediate arrest of all those involved. A joint investigation team has been constituted to investigate the incident while South Punjab Additional Inspector-General (IG) Dr. Ehsan Sadqi has ordered the formation of two police teams to carry out raids to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Religious Affairs minister threatens polio boycott over security situation
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Maulana Abdul Shakoor has threatened to boycott the polio eradication campaign in tribal districts if the government and security forces fail to establish peace in the region.
In a video circulating on social media, the minister stated that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) did not condone such protest measures, however the people of erstwhile-FATA districts have no choice owing to the deteriorating law and order situation in the area.
Maulana Shakoor can also be heard condemning the targeted killings of JUI-F leaders Qari Samiuddin in North Waziristan this year, and Maulana Abdul Salam in Bajaur in 2021. The minister also requests a delegation of party leaders and workers from former tribal areas in Peshawar in attendance to condemn the provincial government and security forces for failing to maintain peace.