Two sides of the coin: Families of suspects protest outside Abbottabad DC’s office

Lawyers, activists hold demonstration against Ambreen Bibi’s murder

ABBOTTABAD: The family members of 15 suspects, arrested on charges of setting a teenage girl ablaze in Makol, held a protest outside the Abbottabad DC’s office on Friday. They insisted their relatives had been falsely implicated. On the other hand, social activists raised their voices against the perpetrators who had killed Ambreen Bibi and demanded they should be taken to task.

The suspects were arrested for burning Ambreen Bibi on the orders of a jirga for arranging meetings for a couple that ultimately eloped.

Speaking on the occasion, the protesters said the police had subjected the suspects to severe mental and physical torture. They added the real suspects were still at large.

The protesters said law-enforcers had used third-degree torture to compel the suspects to confess. They urged IGP Nasir Durrani and the provincial government to free the suspects as they were innocent.

Voice of dissent

Meanwhile, social activists and lawyers also held a demonstration against the burning of Ambreen.

The protest was led by Abbottabad District Bar President Advocate Sabir Tanoli. Lawyers and workers of various civil society organisations marched from Shaheen Chowk to Abbottabad Press Club.

Speaking on the occasion, lawyers and social activists condemned the ghastly murder. They said it was an inhumane act to burn a girl as punishment for her alleged role in helping a couple elope.

The protesters insisted the perpetrators should be taken to task. They also asked the police to ensure the arrest of two suspects who were still at large. Lawyers announced that nobody from their fraternity would fight this case for the accused.

According to a statement issued on Friday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned Ambreen Bibi’s murder.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.