Family of murdered 7-year-old seeks justice

Family of 7 year old murder victim appeals to CJ to bring killers to justice.

JEHLUM: The family of a seven-year-old boy who was murdered two months ago appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and  President Asif Ali Zardari to bring his killers to justice. The boy, Wajahat Razzaq, was killed by Rashid Mehmood and Asad Mehmood when they opened fire at his house on July 7 this year.

The family belongs to Jehlum and are United Kingdom residents who were in Pakistan for a family wedding. Rashid was married to Wajahat’s aunt, Naila, last year but being unhappy with her marriage, she filed for a divorce.

Enraged by this news, Rashid came to Naila’s house and opened fire on the family. Many family members were injured but Wajhat, who was shot on the forehead, died instantly. Since then, the family of the deceased have been trying to bring his killers to justice.

During a press conference, Abdul Aziz, the grandfather of the seven-year-old and Abdul Razzaq, the father of the boy, said that they had registered a case against those involved in the murder but the police had done nothing to put the accused behind bars. Razzaq and Aziz accused the police of not carrying out their duties and putting their case on the back burner because of political pressure. The family told The Express Tribune that the accused have taken refuge with an affluent family in the village which is why the police are reluctant to arrest them. “Our family is being threatened,” Abdul Aziz said. “We keep getting messages to take back our case or else suffer the consequences.”

The family claimed that if the police took no action against the accused they will be left with no choice but to leave the country as their lives are in danger. Tayyab Hafiz Cheema, DPO, and Sardar Abdur Rauf Chisti, DSP, said that a special team has been formed and the accused will be behind bars soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2010.