Dear Fellows

Every year in Pakistan hundreds of women, of all ages and in all parts of the country, are reported killed in the name of honour. Many more cases go unreported. Almost all go unpunished. The lives of millions of women in Pakistan are circumscribed by traditions, which enforce extreme seclusion and submission to men many of whom impose their virtually proprietarily control over women with violence. For the most part, women bear the traditional male control over every aspect of their bodies, speech and behavior with stoicism, as part of their kismat (fate), but exposure to media, the work of women’s rights groups and the greater degree of mobility have seen the beginnings of women’s rights awareness seep into the secluded world of women.

In continuation of these awful practices recently five women, including three minors, were buried alive in the remote of the Balochistan on the charges of choosing their life partners on their free will and not obeying the tribal tradition in their free choice. It is also of very grave concern that still the parallel judicial process is continued in the Pakistan in the name of Jirga which was banned by the higher courts of the country. Due to the powerful persons involvement the police is avoiding to register the case of killing of five women since first week of the July 2008.

According to the information’s received, all five women leaved their home for a civil court at Usta Mohammad, district Jafarabad, so that three of the girls could marry the men of their choice. Their decision to have marriage in court was the result of several days of discussions with the elders of the tribe who refused them permission to marry. The names of two younger girls were not ascertained because of strong control of tribal leaders in the area.

As the news of their plans leaked out, a brother of the minister came with more than six persons and abducted them at gun points. They were taken to another remote area, Nau Abadi, in the vicinity of Baba Kot. After reaching the deserted area of Nau Abadi, the companions took the three younger women and beat them before allegedly opening fire with their guns. The girls were seriously injured but were still alive at that moment. The brother of minister and his accomplices hurled them into a wide ditch and covered them with earth and stones. When two older women protested and tried to stop the burial of the girls that were plainly alive the attackers were so angry that they also pushed the women into the ditch and buried them alive. After completing the burial they fired several shots into to the air so that no one would come close.

It is disturbing for us that anyone could be so inhumanly cruel as to bury someone alive. It is an established fact that a vehicle of the provincial government was used in the incident and that is why no police officer has dared to file a case against the perpetrators.

Pirbhat Women’s Development Society strongly condemns the brutally killing and burry of innocent women and in view of that no doubt his act is an example of sheer violation of human rights and behaves of Government authorities and feudalism towards the marginalized Women.

Owing to this Pirbhat has started a massive struggle to put pressure to government authorities for taking legal action against the powerful tribal leaders. Pirbhat has organized demonstrations rallies at Ghotiki, Jacobabad and Shahdadkot, and intends to continue this struggle unless the justice is provided in the matter.

Pirbhat strongly urge the Human rights organizations, women rights organizations and other civil society to come forward and raise their voice for justice, and write to the relevant authorities condemning the law enforcement agency’s inaction in bringing justice to this case.
We also appeals to government to exhaust all means to Re-establish the rule of law in the country. Intervention must be afforded to investigate and bring to an end to the committing of such torture, assault murders, which are grave crimes against humanity.