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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME - http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/3042/
21 October 2008
PAKISTAN: Honor Killing - Jirga Tribal Justice System - Husband Declared Innocent & Awarded Three Girls & 20 Buffaloes
ISSUES: Honour killing; violence against women; impunity; rule of law;
administration of justice
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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man who killed his second wife for allegedly having an illicit relationship with another received impunity on the pretext of an honour killing by the 'Jirga', the illegal tribal justice system on October 20, 2008. The Jirga has also ordered the other party who allegedly had the relationship with the deceased wife to hand over three girls together with 20 buffaloes as compensation to the husband. Police arrested the killer but soon released him and have respected the decision of the Jirga.
CASE DETAILS:
According to the information received, Mr. Sher Dil Jatoi, 62 years old, killed his second wife in an honour killing for allegedly having an illicit relationship with a person named Mr. Shahoo Jatoi. The honour killing occurred in August this year. Based on this case, Mr. Mir Hassan Jatoi, one of the chiefs of Jatoi tribe, a powerful tribe in the area held a 'Jirga', a court which has been declared as illegal and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, at Lucky Ghulam Shah, Shikarpur district, Sindh province on October 20, 2008 in order to make a decision on the murder case.
Several elites of the Jatoi tribe who have remained in power in both the military and civilian governments took part in the Jirga. The decision said Sher Dil Jatoi was the victim of honour and innocent in killing his second wife. It further said, "as Shahoo Jatoi developed the illicit relationship with the wife of Sher Dil Jatoi, Sher Dil had the right to murder his wife. Shahoo Jatoi was order to compensate Sher Dil by handing over his three minor daughers". Since Shahoo has only one girl, a 10-year-old daughter, the Jirga decided that the brothers Mr. Miro Jatoi and Mr. Khanan Jatoi should give their daughters of ages between 13 and 11 years to Sher Dil. Besides, it also ordered Shahoo's family to deliver 20 buffaloes, costing more than 100,000 rupees (around USD 1,400) each, as a fine for having the relationship.
When this incident took place, the people in the area were resentful and pressured the police to arrest him as he was known as a habitual killer of his wives. Due to the pressure, the police arrested and kept him in the police custody but released him after 15 days as the people's feelings settled down after his arrest. Dr. Ibrahim Jatoi, the chief of the tribe and former minister in the regime of General Zia Ul Haq helped Sher Dil to be released in 2001 when he killed his first wife also on the pretext of an honour killing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
It is reported that more than 100 women are murdered on the pretext of honour killings in Sindh province where the areas bordering Balochistan province. The tribal traditions of killing women on the pretext of honour killings are a common practice as the tribes having a great deal of influence in the area. Four districts are under this tradition.
According to the report made by the Commission on Women, killings are carried out by men to protect their family's honor for so called immoral behavior such as sex outside marriage, taking to or dating men, being a victim of rape and even bad cooking skills.
The AHRC has continued reporting the cases where prime perpetrators are provided of impunity by the decision of the 'Jirga'. Please refer to AHRC-UAC-215-2008, AHRC-UAC-193-2008 and AHRC-UAC-182-2008.
AHRC SUGGESTED ACTION - http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/3042/
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
http://www.ahrchk.net/index.php
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