The top judge also requested that the killers be brought to justice and any police officers present at the scene of the crime be punished for aiding and abetting the crime through their inaction. PHOTO: PPI/FILE
Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on Friday took suo motu notice of the alleged honour killing of a 25-year-old woman, Farzana, outside the Lahore High Court premises on Tuesday and sought a report into the matter from the Punjab police chief within 48 hours. The top judge also requested that the killers be brought to justice and any police officers present at the scene of the crime be punished for aiding and abetting the crime through their inaction.
Four men, including Farzana’s uncle Muhammad Atta, cousins Jehangir Ahmad and Muhamad Azeem, and a driver, Muhammad Nasir, were arrested on Friday, a senior police officer said. The new arrests bring the number held over the killing to five, after Farzana’s father was detained at the crime scene.
“We hope the arrested men will offer leads on the whereabouts of the prime suspects, Farzana’s brothers, former fiancé, cousin and aunt,” a police official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
Cases have been registered against these suspects under Sections 302, 148, 149 of the PPC and 7-ATA. He said that these suspects appear to have been arrested in order to show some traction on the case’s progress after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif gave the police a 24-hour deadline on Thursday.
In addition to the SC’s suo motu notice, the Lahore High Court also took notice of the incident and the relevant Sub-Divisional Police Officer and Station House Officer have been directed to ensure a transparent investigation into the matter. The LHC’s Complaint Cell directed the district and sessions judge (DSJ) Lahore to pursue the matter and ensure compliance of the court’s order after receiving an interim report into the matter.
The DSJ directed the police on Friday to submit a challan of the accused within 14 days after the registration of the FIR. According to the report, Farzana Parveen was accompanying her husband Muhammad Iqbal to the LHC on Tuesday when she was ambushed by her father and other male relatives and killed after she was repeatedly struck with bricks. The report states that an initial investigation and collection of material has been carried out.
CCPO Lahore Chaudhry Shafique Gujjar has formed two investigation teams, both headed by DIG (Investigation) Zulfiqar Hameed. DIG Hameed told The Express Tribune that both teams were raiding Farzana’s hometown of Syedwala in Nankana Sahib district and several other villages in the vicinity in the search for the suspects. A member of the investigation teams added that the houses of Farzana’s family members were found empty and locked.
The police report presented to the Punjab CM by IGP Khan Baig on Thursday stated that police received a call at the 15 helpline at around 7:45am on Tuesday from a witness, Nadeem, who said a scuffle was ongoing between two parties near Saif Centre, Fane Road. The Civil Lines SP, DSP and other police personnel reached the spot following the call but Farzana had already died by the time and her attackers had escaped.
Meanwhile, Farzana’s husband, Muhammad Iqbal, has reportedly taken to ‘guarding’ her grave in Chak No.367-GB, within the remit of Jaranwala police station. He has also demanded police security for his wife’s remains. Iqbal said he has received threats from Farzana’s family that they ‘would dig up her grave and make an example of her’.
“I contracted a love marriage with Farzana in 2004 against her parent’s will due to which they became our enemies,” Iqbal told the media on Friday. Iqbal criticised the police for failing to avert Tuesday’s attack. “We raised the alarm to get protection from police officials while Farzana was being attacked but nobody was ready to give us shelter.”
Separately, a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said, “There is no concept of honour killing in religion and Islam does not support such incidents of barbarism.” Speaking with The Express Tribune, Ashrafi said he will issue a detailed statement on the issue next week.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Topi dramas. In civilised countries the CJ does not have to take suo moto notice every day.
.......in other words the government can now relax because this is going to DRAG ON AND ON and then the next incident will take the stage ( ...and it won't take long ) and another NOTICE WILL BE TAKEN and then ANOTHER SUO MOTU....... and life will go on in Pakistan.
very good, the first notice to be issued to CM of Punjab, and ask him, why he should not quit his CM post....as there are many cases to assault women in Punjab.. Women are so helpless in Pakistan.. God bless our women..