SC takes up jirga verdict on girl
KARACHI, Aug 24: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday observed that Regional Police Officers, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, District Police Officers, Town Police Officers and Investigating Officers working across the province needed to mend their ways, look into public complaints at the earliest, and proceed against the culprits without waiting for summons or a notice from the apex court or the provincial police officer.
This observation was made by Justice Rana Bhagwandas while hearing a case initiated on a complaint filed by 11-year-old Saima, a student of Class-V, against a member of a jirga, headed by feudal lord Wahid Bukhsh Bhugio.
In her application, Saima, a resident of village Jan Mohammad Bhugio in Taluka Dharki, complained that the Jirga had ordered that she be handed over to the accusers as ‘Sangchatti’ (compensation) in some case. When her father, Ramzan Bhugio, refused to accept the jirga’s decision, Wahid Bakhsh ordered his murder while the accusers tried to kidnap her, she said.
The matter was taken up for hearing inside the chamber of Justice Rana Bhagwandas on Friday.Appearing on the court notice, Provincial Police Officer Maj (retd) Ziaul Hasan submitted a report indicating that he had initiated prompt action on receiving her complaint. Subsequently, he said, police registered an FIR nominating 10 persons in the case on Aug 16.
He submitted that three accused, Ghulam Muhammad, Ali Bukhsh and Tamachi, had been arrested while the co-accused, Khuda Bukhsh, Mouladad, Pathan and Sukhial, were granted pre-arrest bail by the Additional Sessions Judge-III, Mirpur Mathelo.
Justice Bhagwandas commended the steps taken by PPO Ziaul Hassan, who assured that he would monitor the investigation of high-profile cases involving violations of fundamental rights and genuine complaints of the oppressed girls in the name of traditions.The court has also directed that a final report in the case shall be submitted as soon as investigation was completed.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/25/2007
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