Torture in Larkana: One man surrenders, three others still at large

One of three men who shaved a woman’s head and eyebrows as punishment surrenders to police.

LARKANA: One of the three men who shaved a woman’s head and eyebrows as punishment surrendered to the police on Sunday.

The 45-year-old victim, Zohra, accused her ex-husband Abdul Sattar of torturing her and forcing his three nephews, Waheed, Wali Muhammad and Badshah, to shave her head and eyebrows. Badshah confessed to the crime in front of the Hyderi police in Larkana and gave a statement, which contradicts Zohra’s version of events.

According to Badshah, his uncle never divorced Zohra and she left their house with her children. Abdul Sattar became emotional when he missed his children, many of who are still young, he said. The couple had 12 children but their eldest son died.

“My uncle could not understand why Zohra abandoned him,” said Badshah. On Saturday, he lost control over his emotions and asked his nephews to shave Zohra’s head and eyebrows. Badshah insisted that he tried to stop his uncle from committing the act but he did not listen to him.

“I did not touch her but my brothers did what our uncle asked them to do,” he admitted. Abdul Sattar was outraged and kept saying that “his heart will not be satisfied” unless he shaves her head, he said. Zohra also agreed once Abdul Sattar promised that he would divorce her later, he claimed.

Badshah said that Abdul Sattar has also agreed to surrender before the police as long as he was treated properly.

The police have raided several areas identified by Badshah but they have yet to locate the remaining men nominated in the FIR.

Zohra, who is still at the women’s police station, will be presented before the court of the third judicial magistrate today (Monday) at 10 am, when her statement will be recorded under Section 164.

The court will decide her fate based on whether she wants to go back to her father’s house or stay in a Darul Aman. Badshah will also be taken to court today.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) women’s wing president Faryal Talpur has given a Rs20,000 cheque to Zohra, said a statement on Sunday.

Zohra’s version

On Saturday, Zohra took refuge at the Women police station, Larkana, where she told the police that her ex-husband divorced her two years ago and she lived with her father in Khairpur. She went to the house of Abdul Sattar’s sister on Saturday to pay condolences for a death in the family and ran into him.

According to Zohra, Abdul Sattar lost control over his emotions and became violent. He tortured her and then forced his nephews to shave her head. She managed to escape later and came to the police station.

With additional input from Online.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2011.