Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ/EXPRESS
Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on Thursday ordered a top police official in Shikarpur to book the killers of two girls, who were illegally convicted by a jirga on suspicion of having illicit relations with men from another tribe.
The chief justice also warned officials against tampering with the case records.
On Tuesday, an FIR was lodged against 13 people, including MNA Ghous Bux Mahar.
According to reports, a jirga was held at Mahar House and presided over by a Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MNA in order to resolve a karo-kari dispute between the Mahar and Jagirani tribes. The jirga imposed a fine of Rs 2.4 million on two men, Abdul Shakoor Jagirani and Farooq Jagirani, for kidnapping and illegally detaining two girls from the Mahar tribe, who were then allegedly murdered.
The girls were reportedly killed in the Qasim Mahar village near Lakhi Ghulam Shah. Their bodies have not been recovered yet. The SSP said a murder case was lodged on March 18, but the main accused, Sanaullah, is still at large.
An FIR against those who organised the jirga was lodged, but the main suspect, MNA Ghous Bux Mahar, has yet to be arrested. SHO Lakhi Ghulam Shah police station lodged FIR No: 24/2014 under sections 419, 384, 143, 117 and 34 of the PPC against 13 people after the court took suo motu notice of the murders. Those named in the FIR include Mehboob Ali Mahar, Khalil Ahmed Mahar, Sanaullah Mahar, Mir Hassan Mahar, Mohammad Malook Mahar, Abdullah Mahar, Haji Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar, Hadi Bux Jagirani, Ali Mohammad Jagirani, Abdul Shakoor Jagirani and Nawab Jagirani.
According to sources, two teenage girls Shani and Reema, daughters of a school teacher Abdullah Mahar, eloped with two members of the Jagirani tribe. The girls were returned to their homes after tribal elders intervened and were killed on the same day. Their father lodged an FIR against his cousin Sanaullah Mahar with Chak police on March 3. Salahuddin Mahar, head constable at Jehan Khan police station told The Express Tribune that Abdullah says his daughters visited Sanaullah’s home the day they were killed. The constable said police found blood stains and empty cartridges on the floor of Sanaullah’s home. “We have searched for the girls’ bodies in nearby graveyards, fish ponds and pools of stagnant water, but have not found them,” he said.
DSP Lakhi Ghulam Shah Jawed Jalbani said raids are under way to arrest those named in the FIR.
Violence in Larkana
The court also appointed the district and sessions judge, Larkana, to hold an inquiry into the torching of a Hindu temple on Sunday. The judicial officer has been asked to submit a report within six weeks, identifying the cause of the incident, the culprits, the role played by law enforcement agencies and measures to curb such violence in the future.
Representative bodies for religious minorities demanded an inquiry during the hearing of a suo motu case relating to attacks and denial of access to worship places for minorities.
Misuse of evacuee properties
Representatives of the Justice Helpline, Saleem Michael and Nadeem Sheikh informed the bench that properties belonging to various religious minority groups are being utilised by a number of government departments.
The bench subsequently directed the secretary for the Federal Board of Evacuee Trust Properties to file a detailed report regarding the misuse of such properties within a week.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.
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Mr Saleem sidiqi, what makes u say that he has a strong hold in sukkur. Mr Mahar is affiliated with the pml-f while the PPP reigns over sukkur.
Furthermore from what I know of the family they are very much liked in their area and village and people have a special regard for him and his son. All this 'feudal' talk is turning out to be quite nonsensical in this regard. Please do your homework before making such comments.
Mehar family is very resourceful in Sindh Ghotki and Sukkur area. It is unlikely the Justice can be done in favour of the murdered ladies.
Due to his Feudal status, it is likely that he will prove that he was not available during this Jirga and that he has nothing to do with all such wrong-doings.
Let us see if we have one eyed and one side justice or a real justice will prevail to counter Mehar for a lesson to other feudal in the country.