LHC honour killing: CJ takes notice, summons report from IG Punjab
Police arrest four men including Farzana’s uncle and two cousins bringing the number held over the killing to five.
Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Taking notice of the the murder of a 25-year-old woman outside the Lahore High Court, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has summoned a report on the incident from IG Punjab, Express News reported on Friday.
Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif gave the police 24 hours to arrest the suspects involved in the murder.
The woman, identified as Farzana Iqbal, was allegedly 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. She was present at the LHC to record a statement in favour of her husband, accused of kidnapping her and forcing her into marriage.
On May 29, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken notice of the murder and directed the Punjab chief minister to submit an immediate report into the incident. The chief minister had ordered the Punjab police inspector to register a case under anti-terrorism laws.
Hours after PM Nawaz had ordered immediate action, Punjab police had scotched reports that law enforcers were present at the scene of the crime.
An initial investigation report filed to Shahbaz had stated that the scene of the crime was not in front of the court but “several hundred feet away from the LHC doors” where “there is no police deployment”.
US condemns murder
The United States Thursday condemned the "heinous" killing of the 25-year-old woman and called for her murderers to be swiftly tried.
"We strongly condemn the murder of a woman outside the Lahore High Court on Tuesday," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
"We hope the perpetrators are quickly brought to justice in accordance with Pakistan's law," she told reporters.
Psaki denounced "unjustifiable acts" against women around the world, especially "violence that occurs in the name of tradition and honor, such as so-called honor killings."
She welcomed statements by Pakistani leaders denouncing Farzana's murder as well as new legislation protecting women's rights in the country.
"We encourage the full implementation of such laws as well as greater public awareness about these laws, especially in Pakistan's rural and tribal areas," Psaki added.
Twists
Contradicting earlier reports that all attackers except Farzana’s father had fled, the in-charge investigation Mozang police said that even the father of the victim is not in police custody and could not be presented before the court, Express News reported on Friday.
There was a twist in the murder case yesterday as well when Farzana’s husband Muhammad Iqbal, 45, had told The Express Tribune that he had strangled his first wife to death.
Iqbal was arrested for the crime but was soon freed after he paid an unknown sum of ‘blood money’ to his son, a police official had said.
Taking notice of the the murder of a 25-year-old woman outside the Lahore High Court, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has summoned a report on the incident from IG Punjab, Express News reported on Friday.
Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif gave the police 24 hours to arrest the suspects involved in the murder.
The woman, identified as Farzana Iqbal, was allegedly 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. She was present at the LHC to record a statement in favour of her husband, accused of kidnapping her and forcing her into marriage.
On May 29, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken notice of the murder and directed the Punjab chief minister to submit an immediate report into the incident. The chief minister had ordered the Punjab police inspector to register a case under anti-terrorism laws.
Hours after PM Nawaz had ordered immediate action, Punjab police had scotched reports that law enforcers were present at the scene of the crime.
An initial investigation report filed to Shahbaz had stated that the scene of the crime was not in front of the court but “several hundred feet away from the LHC doors” where “there is no police deployment”.
US condemns murder
The United States Thursday condemned the "heinous" killing of the 25-year-old woman and called for her murderers to be swiftly tried.
"We strongly condemn the murder of a woman outside the Lahore High Court on Tuesday," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
"We hope the perpetrators are quickly brought to justice in accordance with Pakistan's law," she told reporters.
Psaki denounced "unjustifiable acts" against women around the world, especially "violence that occurs in the name of tradition and honor, such as so-called honor killings."
She welcomed statements by Pakistani leaders denouncing Farzana's murder as well as new legislation protecting women's rights in the country.
"We encourage the full implementation of such laws as well as greater public awareness about these laws, especially in Pakistan's rural and tribal areas," Psaki added.
Twists
Contradicting earlier reports that all attackers except Farzana’s father had fled, the in-charge investigation Mozang police said that even the father of the victim is not in police custody and could not be presented before the court, Express News reported on Friday.
There was a twist in the murder case yesterday as well when Farzana’s husband Muhammad Iqbal, 45, had told The Express Tribune that he had strangled his first wife to death.
Iqbal was arrested for the crime but was soon freed after he paid an unknown sum of ‘blood money’ to his son, a police official had said.