Tag: violence against women

  • Khadija Siddiqi case: Punjab Govt says early release for good behaviour, blood donation

    Punjab Prisons Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan has responded to the allegations against the Punjab government of giving 1.5 year remission to Shah Hussain, the man convicted of stabbing Khadija Siddiqi.

    Shah Hussain did not receive any “legal remission” from the government but had actually availed “technical remissions”, said Chohan.

    https://twitter.com/Fayazchohanpti/status/1419918424160063489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1419918424160063489%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1637224

    As per a document shared by Chohan, Shah has gotten remission on the following basis:

    1. Ordinary remission: 8 months and 8 days.
    2. Annual Good conduct Remission: 1 month.
    3. Blood Remission: 1 month.
    4. Education Remission of 7 months and 15 days which includes 4 months and 15 days for B.A and 3 months for Tarjma ul Quran.
    https://twitter.com/fayazchohanpti/status/1419919839389528064?s=21

    Earlier, Khadija took to Twitter and accused the Punjab government of granting, “extraordinary REMISSION of 1.5 years.”

    In another tweet, Khadija tagged Punjab Prisons Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan and wrote: “You are responsible for allowing early release of my attacker.”

    Siddiqi was stabbed 23 times on a busy Lahore street while she was picking her six-year-old sister from school on May 3, 2016. Shah Hussain is the son of a senior Lahore High Court lawyer.

  • Govt of Punjab responsible for releasing my attacker, not judiciary: Khadija Siddiqi

    Khadija Siddiqi, a young lawyer who was stabbed 23 times by Shah Hussain in 2016, questioned the Punjab government for the early release of her attacker.

    Shah Hussain was released from jail on 17 July without completing his five years in jail term. He got a 1.5 year remission.

    “Many people raising questions on the order of the High Court, given by Justice Shan Gul, just to clarify, they approached the court for 1 month of further remission which was NOT granted by the court,” said Khadija in a tweet, adding: “The @GovtofPunjabPK had already granted extraordinary REMISSION of 1.5 years! State to be blamed.”

    “Dear State, will you break the silence and hold jail authorities accountable?” she asked.

    In another tweet, Khadija tagged Punjab Prisons Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan and wrote: “You are responsible for allowing early release of my attacker.”

    Speaking on Geo News programme AAj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Khadija said that she has no idea on what basis Shah Hussain got a remission of one and a half years. “It is evident that influence has been used in this case.” She said that when she came to know about the release of Hussain through unofficial sources, she wrote to CCPO Lahore that she needs security because her life is in danger as her attacker will be out but she did not get any response.

    Karachi-based lawyer Jibran Nasir, while talking exclusively to The Current, said that the government needs to explain how and why Shah Hussain has been released without completing his five year sentence.

    Siddiqi was stabbed 23 times on a busy Lahore street while she was picking her six-year-old sister from school on May 3, 2016.

  • ‘I am disgusted and horrified’: Hollywood’s Jameela Jamil gets emotional about the Noor Mukadam case

    ‘I am disgusted and horrified’: Hollywood’s Jameela Jamil gets emotional about the Noor Mukadam case

    Jameela Jamil is currently prepping for her Marvel debut after she was cast for a role on She-Hulk. The Good Place actress was informed about the rising violence against women in Pakistan over the last few weeks, especially Noor Mukadam’s shocking case.

    Noor Mukadam, 27, was stabbed to death and then beheaded according to her post mortem report.

    Jameela took to her Instagram stories to express her feelings on the horrific tragedy that Noor went through.

    Jameela has linked a story on Noor published in The Daily Beast to make people aware on what happened in Noor’s case.

    The alleged killer Zahir Jaffer is now in police custody and is being charged with murder. His parents are also in custody for trying to hide evidence and aiding and abetting.

  • Zahir called his parents before the murder and told them that Noor has refused to marry him

    Parents of Zahir Jaffer, the alleged killer of Noor Mukadam were presented in a local court in Islamabad on Sunday along with the other two suspects.

    Azaz Syed a local reporter who was present in the court while speaking to The Current shared details about the latest development in Noor Mukadam’s case. Zahir Jaffer’s father Zakir told Azaz that he condemns the incident and he paid his condolences to the family of the girl saying that he knows Noor’s family personally and he is saddened over what has happened and that he wants to see justice.

    Azaz further told that the Lawyer of Zahir’s parents told the court that they were in Karachi when they came to know about the ‘crime’.

    Azaz also told The Current that the public prosecutor told the court that Zahir called his parents before the murder and told them that Noor has refused to marry him.

    Islamabad police, on Saturday night, arrested the parents of alleged killer Zahir Jaffer, Zaqir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee for hiding evidence and abetting the murder. The court gave the police a two-day remand for the parents of Zahir Jaffer and they are to remain in police custody.

    Meanwhile, TherapyWorks, the counselling company which came to Zahir’s aid on his father’s request, has been sealed in Islamabad by the police.

  • Justice for us

    Justice for us

    Every week, nay every day, we hear of incidents of violence against women. A couple of weeks ago, the viral video of Usman Mirza harassing and subjecting a couple to sexual assault made the headlines. Then we heard of a man who shot his wife, Saima, in front of his children in Peshawar just this month. On July 15, another man tortured and killed his wife, Quratulain, in Hyderabad; they had four children. After each news, we think about what could be worse. But this cycle never ends as we hear of another shocking incident one after another. 

    This week, Noor Mukadam was murdered in Islamabad by Zahir Zakir Jaffer. A son of an influential businessman, Zahir is a dual national. According to the police, Zahir held Noor captive for a couple of days in his house before beheading her. She tried to escape once but was captured again by her tormentor. Noor’s gruesome death has left every woman wondering what it means to be a woman in a patriarchal society where no woman is safe just because of her gender. 

    Noor’s murder has sent shockwaves across the country. People are protesting and asking for justice. Details of this case leave one feeling completely helpless. We cannot even fathom the plight of her parents, her family. We didn’t know Noor personally but her murder feels so personal. Just reading how her mother kept saying that she leaves it in Allah’s hands (Allah ke hawaalay, Allah ke hawaalay) makes us cry in anger and agony. Why do women have to keep suffering? These incidents are not in isolation. It has everything to do with the fact how we treat our women in general, how misogyny is prevalent in our society, how toxic masculinity is present in almost every household, and how there is so much inequality between genders.

    Pakistan ranks 153 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2021 out of 156 countries. We have slipped two spots since last year as Pakistan’s gender gap had widened by 0.7 percentage points.  Have we ever wondered why? There are at least 1,000 honour killings each year as per reports. Women are killed, maimed, beaten up, raped, sexually assaulted, kidnapped, and much more. Whenever such incidents make headlines, there are always those who say this will tarnish our country’s image instead of saying that we need to change and reform our society. Fingers are almost always pointed at women, never at men who are the perpetrators of violent crimes against women. When we blame the victims and survivors, we — in essence — end up justifying the crime and giving impunity to the criminal. This must stop. Our justice system also needs to deliver. Conviction rates in most cases of violence against women are low. It makes women feel even more insecure. 

    Let’s make our women safe. Let’s teach our children about gender equality. Let’s call out each and everyone who blames the victims. Let’s call out patriarchy and misogyny for what it is instead of making up excuses for violent crimes. Let women live. 

  • Fact Check: Khadija Siddiqui’s attacker released without completing five year jail term

    Claim: Barrister Khadija Siddiqui’s attacker released after completing 5 years jail term

    Fact: Khadija Siddiqui’s attacker was released without completing his jail term

    The convict in Khadija Siddiqui stabbing case, Shah Hussain, was released from the Jail on 17 July, ARY News reported. As per the details he was released after completing his five years in jail term, which according to leading lawyers is not true.

    Karachi based lawyer Jibran Nasir while talking exclusively to The Current said that government needs to explain how and why Shah Hussain has been released without completing his five years sentence.

    Explaining the case, Nasir said: “He [Shah Hussain] served 1.5 months in jail during trial and was then released on post arrest bail. Between conviction from trial court and acquittal from High Court, he served a little over 11 months in jail. Then post the Supreme Court decision overturning acquittal, he served 2.5 years. Total 3.5 years in jail.”

    “The only ways for a convict to come out of jail before completion of sentence is either through remission of sentence which can be done by the provincial government, federal government or the President. But that doesn’t apply here. For the offence for which Shah Hussain was convicted [stabbing Khadija Siddiqui 23 times] i.e. PPC 324 and 337, the government cannot remit the sentence without consent of the victim i.e. Khadija,” he added.

    “Second way is for a convict to be released on probation is for good behaviour, but that also doesn’t not apply to criminals convicted for Sec 324 and 337.”

    Siddiqui was stabbed more than two dozen times on a busy Lahore street while she was picking her six-year-old sister Sofia Siddiqui from school on May 3, 2016.

    A Lahore judicial magistrate had handed down seven-year rigorous imprisonment to Hussain after finding him guilty of attempted murder on July 29, 2017.

    However, a sessions court in March 2018 set aside the minor penalties of the convict and commuted the sentence to five years, out of which Shah Hussain was released after serving 3.5 years.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • Therapy Works and its alleged role in the murder of Noor Mukadam

    The daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat was killed on Tuesday. Noor Mukadam, 27, daughter of Shaukat Mukadam, was found murdered at a residence in the capital’s upscale Sector F-7/4 and the alleged murderer, Zahir Jaffar was arrested for the murder.

    As per details, Zahir Jaffar was allegedly associated with Therapy Works.

    https://twitter.com/situationsarah/status/1417854061966237701

    In a recent development, Islamabad Police has decided to interview the management of Therapy Works, which allegedly granted murder suspect Zahir Jaffar a certification to become a therapist.

    According to the information provided on Therapy Works website,  the centre is affiliated with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB) in the United Kingdom and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

    However,British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) has confirmed that Therapy Works is not a member of BACP. “Thanks for bringing this to our attention,” said BACP while responding to a tweet.

    “We can confirm that this organisation is not a member of BACP, and we’ve contacted them to ask they remove the BACP logo from their website and other advertising materials.”

    Meawhile, Therapy works has denied the allegations of Zahir Jaffar seeing clients of the organisation.

    “Zahir Jaffer was enrolled as a student in UK Level 3 from September 2015 to September 2016. After this he joined UK Level 4 from October 2016 to June 2018. He did not complete his coursework and International Essays, and accordingly was never given permission to see clients,” said the statement.

    While Therapy Works has responded to the allegation that Zahir was a practicing therapist, The Current reached out to them asking for a response to the allegations that they were involved in the incident. We are still waiting for a response.

  • Police arrest brothers for beating sister over her demand in property

    Police arrest brothers for beating sister over her demand in property

    Trigger warning: Violence

    Two men were arrested by the Peshawar Police on Saturday for viciously beating their sister with a hammer and a helmet over a property dispute.

    As per reports, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have confirmed their arrest. They were arrested by the Capital City Police from Amin Colony in Peshawar.

    During interrogation, both men confessed to torturing their sister Masmaat for demanding a share in the ancestral house.

    The video on Twitter was posted by the victim’s son, demanding action against his maternal uncles. He tweeted: “Today my maternal uncles attacked my mother when I and my brother were not home.”

    Right after this, Peshawar Deputy Inspector General Abbas Ahsan responded saying, “Action taken, both of them have been arrested and the case being registered.”

    In the video, it can be seen that they entered their’s sister’s house and repeatedly thrashed her.

    The local police shifted the woman to the hospital for medical examination after which a case will be registered against the accused.

    Following the incident, social media users expressed outrage and demanded justice.

  • ‘The liberal brigade is misrepresenting facts’: PTI MNAs defend PM Khan’s comments on rape

    ‘The liberal brigade is misrepresenting facts’: PTI MNAs defend PM Khan’s comments on rape

    Female leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday defended Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comments on sexual violence and temptation. Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Ali Bokhari and MNA Kanwal Shauzab held a press conference and came out in support of PM Khan and called out the “liberal brigade” for misrepresenting facts.

    Gul claimed that the premier was a “symbol of women empowerment”.

    “For the first time in Pakistan, five women ministers are sitting in the federal cabinet. This means that if there is a symbol of women empowerment in Pakistan, it is Prime Minister Imran,” Gul said.

    Gul added, “My culture has given me respect, Islam has taught me modesty. Do not try to distort the things said in the Holy Quran.”

    Bokhari said that she was proud to be a member of parliament under the leadership of “a man who prioritised the protection of women and children”.

    “You can’t distort a question and determine whether or not the premier cares about protecting women and children. You need to see what the government has done,” she said pointing to the establishment of special courts for deciding rape cases and anti-rape crisis cells at hospitals.

    “The Prime Minister has set aside Rs100 million in the budget for implementation of the anti-rape law,” Bokhari added.

    “We are strong women and we have been strengthened by our leader Imran Khan,” Bokhari said.

    “Under PM Imran’s leadership, the two-finger test was abolished,” Bokhari said. “Because we realise the difficulties that women have to face, we ensured that they get their inheritance rights. No other premier has called for such a law,” she said.

    MNA Kanwal Shauzab reiterated that PM Khan had empowered women in true sense.

    Quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, which she said was the essence of the prime minister’s statement, she remarked that those contesting the premier’s statement were actually contesting Allah.

    Shauzab, meanwhile, believes that if you are among those who are “fighting” against the premier’s statement in his HBO interview, then you are “disagreeing with the orders of Allah”.

    She said PM Khan explained the commands of Allah regarding women.

    “We are proud to live in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” Shauzab said, adding that our society does not accept obscenity.

    Earlier in the day, another PTI MNA, Aliya Hamza Malik, too, spoke in support of the premier. In an appearance on Geo Pakistan on Tuesday, Malik urged “liberals” to listen to the premier’s statement before critiquing it.

    She said the premier made a comparison between the East and the West when speaking about rape cases.

    PM Khan has made strict laws for abusers, she said, adding that the state is fulfilling its responsibility and it is our job to make strict legislation.

  • ‘If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on men, unless they are robots,’ says PM Khan

    In an interview with “Axios on HBO” with Jonathan Swan, which aired at 3am PST on Monday morning, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that “if a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they are robots”.

    Prime Minister Khan discussed various issues in his interview with Axios’ Swan ranging from US withdrawal from Afghanistan to Pak-US relationship, Uyghur Muslims in China and sexual violence in Pakistan.

    Rape and sexual violence

    Swan asked PM Khan about his previous comments pertaining to rape and vulgarity, PM said that it is “such nonsense”.

    “I said that the concept of purdah is avoid temptation in the society. We don’t have discos here, we don’t have night clubs, so it is a completely different society, way of life here. So if you raise temptation in the society to the point and all these young guys have nowhere to go, it has consequences in the society.”

    Swan asked: “Do you think that what women wear has any affect, that that’s part of this temptation?”

    “If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they are robots. I mean it’s common sense,” replied PM.

    Swan asked if this would provoke acts of sexual violence, to which PM Khan responded, “It depends which society you live in. If in a society, people haven’t seen that sort of thing, it will have an impact on them. If you grow up in a society like you, maybe it won’t on you. This cultural imperialism, whatever is in our culture must be acceptable to everyone else. It’s not.”

    “Jonathan, it’s about my society. My priority is how my society behaves, what reactions are caused in my society so when I see sex crime going through the roof, we sit down, we discuss how we are going to tackle this. It is having an impact in my society. We have to do something about it.”

    US withdrawal from Afghanistan

    Axios’ Swan asked PM Khan if he was happy that the US military is finally withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years. PM said, “Happy in one way because there was never going to be a military solution in Afghanistan. Anxious that they [the US] are leaving without a political settlement, there is a possibility of civil war.” When asked what would a political settlement look like, PM said that a political settlement in Afghanistan “would mean a sort of a coalition government, a government from the Taliban side and the other side. There is no other solution”.

    Swan asked if PM Khan thinks the Americans made a mistake by saying they are getting out by September 11. The PM said they got themselves in such a big mess that they had to give some sort of timeframe. “But the moment they gave a timeframe, Taliban would have considered that a victory.” PM was asked how he felt about the prospect of the Taliban effectively controlling Afghanistan and if he is happy to welcome them into the community of nations. “As far as Pakistan is concerned, whoever represents the people of Afghanistan, we will deal with them.”

    Swan asked what if they were not democratically elected and does it not concern you on some level that this group of people is accumulating power right next door to you. PM Imran Khan said, “Look, I am not a spokesman for Taliban. For me to say, you know what they are doing or what they shouldn’t be doing is pointless. In case Taliban go for an all-out victory, there is going to be incredible amount of bloodshed. And let me tell you, the country that is going to suffer the most after Afghanistan is going to be Pakistan. We already have three million Afghan refugees here. And this could lead to another exodus so that is our biggest concern. The Americans, before they leave, there must be a settlement.”

    Relationship with the United States

    Swan asked PM Imran Khan why the American CIA Director Bill Burns made an unannounced visit to Islamabad. “Ever since 9/11, there’s constantly been in touch between our intelligence agencies.” PM Khan said he did not meet the CIA director but the head of ISI met him.

    Swan said that the Americans want to have their spies and special forces based in Pakistan to keep an eye on what is happening across the border. To a question if he will allow the American government to have CIA here in Pakistan to conduct cross-border counterterrorism missions against al-Qaeda, ISIS or the Taliban, PM Khan emphatically said, “Absolutely not.” The host interjected and asked: “Seriously?”

    “There is no way we will allow any bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not. Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties, more than any other country by joining the American war. We cannot afford any more military actions from our territory. We will be partners in peace, not in conflict,” added Khan.

    Swan said that the American military is discussing doing airstrikes potentially to support the Afghan forces against the Taliban. “Would you allow the American Airforce to use your air space for those airstrikes?”

    “We are not going to be part of any conflict anymore,” replied Khan.

    But you haven’t decided yet whether you will let them use your airspace, asked Swan again. PM Khan said this has not been discussed at all. “Why would the Americans be using bombing Afghanistan after it hasn’t worked for 20 years, why will it work again?”

    Kashmir resolution

    PM Khan said he has not spoken to US President Joe Biden since he took office. “Whenever he has time, he can speak to me. But at the moment, clearly he has other priorities.” When asked what would he say to Biden when he does meet him, PM said: “The US has a big responsibility as the most powerful nation in the world. Almost 1.4 billion people are living in the subcontinent. We are held hostage to one dispute in Kashmir. A disputed territory. According to the United Nations Security Council resolutions, there should have been a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir to decide about their own future. That has never taken place. It’s festering. If the Americans have the resolve, the will, it can be sorted out.”

    Nuclear weapons

    Prime Minister Khan that the purpose of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons “is not an offensive thing”. He said that any country that has a neighbour seven times the size as Pakistan has, “would be worried”. PM Khan said he is “completely against nuclear arms. I always have been”. Ever since the nuclear deterrence, Pakistan and India have not been to war despite three wars in the past. “We have border skirmishes but we have never faced war. The moment there is a settlement on Kashmir, I believe the two neighbours will live as civilised people. We will not need to have these nuclear deterrence.”

    Uyghur Muslims in China

    Swan asked PM Khan why he does not speak about Uyghurs in China when he is so vocal about Islamophobia in the west.

    “What our conversations have been with the Chinese, this is not the case according to them. Whatever issues we have with the Chinese, we speak to them behind closed doors. China has been one of the greatest friends to us in our most difficult times. When we were really struggling, our economy was struggling, China came to our rescue so we respect the way they are,” said PM Khan. He also questioned why the people of Kashmir are ignored and how this is hypocrisy.

    “Am I going to start talking about everything? I concentrate on what is happening on my border, in my country…that concerns me more.”