While the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa chief secretary failed to produce the five girls before the Supreme Court, the chief justice sent a fact-finding mission comprising women activists to visit the Peech Bela union council of Kohistan.
Human rights activists Farzana Bari and Riffat Butt and two other women reached Kohistan by helicopter on Wednesday afternoon. The helicopters landed at Pattan Tehsil due to unfavourable weather conditions. The mission, then, flew to district headquarters Dassu, where they stayed for the night.
The activists met locals, including journalists, and gathered information about reports that the five women were killed on the orders of a jirga. The mission will reach union council Peech Bela today (Thursday) where they are to visit the homes of the women to confirm if they were alive.
One of the team members, on condition of anonymity, said that some administration officials were trying to mislead them but added that the team was determined to reach the village and determine the truth.
None of the mission members have met any witnesses yet who could provide evidence that the women had been killed.
Meanwhile an official source said that the helicopters could only fly to the area provided the weather is favourable today (Thursday).
According to reports, the elders of Azad Khel tribe (the women’s tribe) are reluctant to expose their women to outsiders, as it is against their tribal customs.
On the other hand, the elders of the Salikhel tribe, (the men’s tribe) have announced that they will identify the place where the women were buried without final rituals.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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When This Team Reached Here , I meet him,, The local People are not Satisfied About The Verification of Girls Alive ,, They are meet Same faces girls.. The Local Peoples Saying That The all of five girls has been killed by force.
Speaking to media representatives from Kohistan, rights activist Farzana Bari said that four of the women were alive.
Bari is a member of the fact-finding delegation sent to the northwestern region in the case.
However, Bari said that it would not be possible to produce the women before the court on Thursday.
chief Justice should ask for an affidavit from the officials who claim that the women are alive with regard to the fact that they are still alive.
@Hammad: Amen to that bro!
@Hammad: I agree there is no Islamic law against clapping at a wedding. But their sure is for cold blooded murder. If these accusation are true they deserve to be beheaded in public. I would buy that ticket. Same for all those Acid throwing animals.
I saw the video. Those innocent women. May their souls rest in peace! They were so shy and innocent.
CJ must make pakistan secular.
What a shame: why were these women killed (if true) without trial.What was their crime.Which law of Pakistan did they violate
If those women are killed a better solution would be to bomb all mullahs who issue such fatwas and hang in public who have carried out these killings.
I don't find a precedence of Media hype just due to reporting by a single person alongwith a vague video, alleging murders.
This may be true, but media doesn't need to create so much hype before a solid proof.
One or even more person may be used by hostile elements (like Raymond Davis, Shakeel Afridi, etc) to act as proxy and promote chaos in the social system of the country.
And who will be responsible;e for the security of these women activists?
What a brutal and regressive culture this is.Why have such people been allowed to bypass our legal system.These ppl are still living in the dark ages.They treat their women like normal ppl treat their pets.They shouldn't be allowed to hide behind ''culture'' ,that's just an excuse used to cover up misogyny and torture of women.
It would have been better if a credible neutral judge or judicial officer was sent remember the Samar Miannullah Swat Flogging debacle. These "Activist" cant be trusted for the time of day.... I hope the Jirga deaths arent true but if they are CJ should make them pay...
And the massacre of innocent women continues. Muslim women can be brutally murdered and buried without any prayers but they cannot be allowed to meet outsiders especially activist women! It makes me throw up.