Nawaz asks Punjab CM to submit report on 'honour' killing outside LHC
PM says crime is totally unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with law promptly
A file photo of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Taking notice of the killing of a 25-year-old woman outside the Lahore High Court (LHC), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has requested Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to submit a report on the incident, Express News reported on Thursday.
“This crime is totally unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with law promptly. I am directing the chief minister to take immediate action and report must be submitted by this eve to my office,” said an official statement issued by the prime minister's office.
The woman was stoned to death by her father and two brothers in an apparent ‘honour killing’ outside the LHC on May 27 after she married a man of her choice.
Farzana Iqbal of Chak 167, Jaranwala, was previously engaged to a cousin but chose to marry Muhammad Iqbal, a resident of Syedawala, a month ago. Her family registered a kidnapping case against Iqbal at Syedawala police station and Farzana arrived at the LHC to record her statement in favour of her husband, officials had said.
Police had said that Farzana was waiting outside the LHC, near a mosque, when members of her family opened fire at her. She had survived the firing and subsequently, nearly a dozen men, including her father, brothers and former fiancée, pelted her with bricks and stones, according to Civil Lines SP Umar Riaz Cheema.
The men continued to stone her until she died on the spot.
Local police had reached the spot soon after Farzana died and registered a case on her husband’s complaint.
Farzana suffered head injuries and was taken to the hospital by passersby, where she was declared dead on arrival.
All attackers except Farzana’s father, Muhammad Azeem, fled from the scene. Azeem confessed to police that he killed his daughter as it was a matter of honour. No further arrests have been made by the Mozang police yet.
According to rights group Aurat Foundation, honour killings claim an estimated 1,000 lives of women every year in Pakistan – the figure is compiled from news reports and the Foundation states that actual statistics may be greater.
Taking notice of the killing of a 25-year-old woman outside the Lahore High Court (LHC), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has requested Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to submit a report on the incident, Express News reported on Thursday.
“This crime is totally unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with law promptly. I am directing the chief minister to take immediate action and report must be submitted by this eve to my office,” said an official statement issued by the prime minister's office.
The woman was stoned to death by her father and two brothers in an apparent ‘honour killing’ outside the LHC on May 27 after she married a man of her choice.
Farzana Iqbal of Chak 167, Jaranwala, was previously engaged to a cousin but chose to marry Muhammad Iqbal, a resident of Syedawala, a month ago. Her family registered a kidnapping case against Iqbal at Syedawala police station and Farzana arrived at the LHC to record her statement in favour of her husband, officials had said.
Police had said that Farzana was waiting outside the LHC, near a mosque, when members of her family opened fire at her. She had survived the firing and subsequently, nearly a dozen men, including her father, brothers and former fiancée, pelted her with bricks and stones, according to Civil Lines SP Umar Riaz Cheema.
The men continued to stone her until she died on the spot.
Local police had reached the spot soon after Farzana died and registered a case on her husband’s complaint.
Farzana suffered head injuries and was taken to the hospital by passersby, where she was declared dead on arrival.
All attackers except Farzana’s father, Muhammad Azeem, fled from the scene. Azeem confessed to police that he killed his daughter as it was a matter of honour. No further arrests have been made by the Mozang police yet.
According to rights group Aurat Foundation, honour killings claim an estimated 1,000 lives of women every year in Pakistan – the figure is compiled from news reports and the Foundation states that actual statistics may be greater.