ISLAMABAD:
A delegation of National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) Wednesday expressed concern over government’s inaction against jirga members allegedly involved in the Neelor Bala disrobing incident.
On June 8, Shaheen* was paraded naked in the streets of Neelor Bala village on the instigation of a jirga that found her son guilty of rape. Four armed men from the village marched up her house, disrobed the middle-aged woman and paraded her in the streets, naked.
The delegation, led by NCSW Chairperson Anis Haroon, met with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Muhammad Naeem and Commissioner Khalid Khan Umerzai at their office. It also met Shaheen*, the victim.
The Commissioner and DIG briefed the delegation on the legal action that had been taken so far. They said three of the primary suspects, Suleman, Arsalan and Imran had been detained, while the fourth suspect Manzoor is yet to be arrested. They said the police have also arrested three jirga members including its head Basheer Abbasi, who were involved in passing the judgement against Shaheen.
Regarding the victim’s security, they said that she had been shifted to an official residence and two police guards have been assigned for her protection. They assured the delegation of having a transparent investigation and bringing those involved in this heinous crime to justice.
The commission expressed its reservation on the role of jirgas, and urged the officers to play their role in eliminating the jirga system, which subjugated women to the most degrading punishments. “The NCSW is shocked at the recent incident in Neelor Bala. This is the most gruesome act of violence against women in the country. This violent action was taken on the behest of a jirga, which decided this penalty for the unfortunate woman,” said the chairperson.
Haroon also condemned the recent incident of violence in Mardan, where a young woman was brutally stoned to death. It stressed on exemplary verdict against the culprits so that the increasing trend of violence against women could be dealt with accordingly.
According to Human Development Organization, a Hazara based civil society organisation, 44 cases of violence against women were reported from five districts of Hazara between January and May this year. Out of these incidents, 14 women were murdered, five killed for “honour”, five kidnapped, seven committed suicide under unexplained conditions, one lost her nose, while 12 were subjected to other forms of domestic violence.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2011.
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