Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ/EXPRESS
Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif gave the police 24 hours to arrest the suspects involved in the murder.
The woman, identified as Farzana Iqbal, was allegedly stoned to death by her father and two brothers in an apparent ‘honour killing’ outside the LHC on May 27 after she married a man of her choice. She was present at the LHC to record a statement in favour of her husband, accused of kidnapping her and forcing her into marriage.
On May 29, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken notice of the murder and directed the Punjab chief minister to submit an immediate report into the incident. The chief minister had ordered the Punjab police inspector to register a case under anti-terrorism laws.
Hours after PM Nawaz had ordered immediate action, Punjab police had scotched reports that law enforcers were present at the scene of the crime.
An initial investigation report filed to Shahbaz had stated that the scene of the crime was not in front of the court but “several hundred feet away from the LHC doors” where “there is no police deployment”.
US condemns murder
The United States Thursday condemned the "heinous" killing of the 25-year-old woman and called for her murderers to be swiftly tried.
"We strongly condemn the murder of a woman outside the Lahore High Court on Tuesday," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
"We hope the perpetrators are quickly brought to justice in accordance with Pakistan's law," she told reporters.
Psaki denounced "unjustifiable acts" against women around the world, especially "violence that occurs in the name of tradition and honor, such as so-called honor killings."
She welcomed statements by Pakistani leaders denouncing Farzana's murder as well as new legislation protecting women's rights in the country.
"We encourage the full implementation of such laws as well as greater public awareness about these laws, especially in Pakistan's rural and tribal areas," Psaki added.
Twists
Contradicting earlier reports that all attackers except Farzana’s father had fled, the in-charge investigation Mozang police said that even the father of the victim is not in police custody and could not be presented before the court, Express News reported on Friday.
There was a twist in the murder case yesterday as well when Farzana’s husband Muhammad Iqbal, 45, had told The Express Tribune that he had strangled his first wife to death.
Iqbal was arrested for the crime but was soon freed after he paid an unknown sum of ‘blood money’ to his son, a police official had said.
COMMENTS (17)
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It took foreign countries for CJ to wake up to the obvious reality of whats going on?? Does this guy not read the paper!!! How long has this epidemic being going on that the light buld has finally come on?
Get rid of the CII and take urgent steps enforcing the laws that are meant to protect folks.
Seriously, the CJ just realized this was happening in the country???
This is pathetic.
The killers can chill for the fact that even if they kill many more Farzanas no death penalty would be given to them thanks to Zardari and Nawaz regimes and EU and other NGOs protecting the rights of killers and not victims
Forget all of these notices, this should not have happened in the first place! What were the policemen doing when she was being stoned?
day light murder in front of Police n Public shows that we as a nation has gone trash. Honorable CJ should dismiss all those police man who were there and watching such a animal act n above all all of these police officers deserve 25-public lashing - a warning to these FAT public servants.
These notices are only waste of time and money. They are not meant to change anything. If SC is serious, it should repeal laws contrary to humanity and fairness. Every notice or involvement of a big shot adds more amount in blood money. In the end criminal husband would get ten times more what father and brothers of murdered women were demanding from him. On the other hand, the parents of murdered women will try their best to prove abduction to avoid payment of any blood money.
No doubt Pakistan is a stone age Country.
after the reaction of USA...P.M. and Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took notice of the killing.......it seem we only work under pressure
All these issues can easily be resolved through a local government but Pmon does not want to share its powers. Who will then take notice of something for media attention?
Classic........LOOK BUSY DO NOTHING......approach.
Notices and notices...and notices
@Aphtab:
Because they are all hypocrites. The man who kidnapped and had supposedly married the pregnant woman victim, had appareently killed his previously wife to be able to marry the victim. The Government does not need reports from the Police, but to order their suspension until the independent judiciary enquiry investigate the macabre case and establish facts.
Rex Minor
Why is the Chief Justice involved when the PM and CM are taking action. The court should focus on pending cases.
@ashraf lolz
Solution to all women Society Critical Issues,
Women harassment and Protection Bill is Needed In which No Man and women company be allowed in public places (Parks, Restaurants, Transport, University, colleges, work Places etc) those have no blood relation. By this 95% chances of rape and harassment can be eliminated.
No more male dominance culture but equality culture. The time woman depends on male she will be exploited in every field of live. She does not need male dependence for her successful career and life. I can see few who oppose this because they know they can’t fulfill their shameful desires without exploiting those women those depend on them. In Pakistan 90% woman who leave their home face severe harassment either on work Place or at their educational institutions. Women can be a doctor, engineer, scientist and businessman and they can become without depending on males. Now few incidences “ Punjab university and Islamic University Cases: Male professors ask for secret services from female students to get good marks”. What if these were female professors and students?? This happens in every institution even at workplace to get promotion or bonuses. About law I know I am out of Mind of those people who are technological illiterate. For what purpose will be 3G/4G technology be used if it can’t be used for betterment of society. Nadra Chip Based N.I.C card and Portable Data reader Tablets. Can easily see Man is with women who has legal relationship.(wife, sister, Mother) and is not with someone whom he give some unconscious drink to take her away for bestiality . Media reports only 1% of rape cases because 99% are not reported and registered in cities. We have to take measures to make this state a welfare state for everyone.
Justice in Pakistan ends in the areas beyond the nose of the CJP. For comic relief perhaps they can televise the dressing down of the IQ saab by the CJP (candid camera style)
Shames for PML N government. We don't need metro railway Just law of order and right of living and protection against corrupt police