Kohat Police directed to protect family of slain woman

PESHAWAR: The Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday directed the Kohat Police to provide protection to the family of Hina Shahnawaz who was allegedly murdered by her cousin on February 6 in Kohat. The Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights met with its chairman Sultan Muhammad Khan in the chair.

Hina Shahnawaz, 27-year old, was the sole breadwinner for her family. Earlier, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser took notice of her murder and referred the matter to the Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights.

The members of the Standing Committee Munawar Khan, Fazal Hakim, Nawabzada Wali Muhammad Khan, and Arbab Jahandad Khan, Sanaullah Khan, Superintendent of Police (Investigation branch) Kohat, and officials from Law Department, Human Right Directorate and Secretariat of KP Assembly attended the meeting.

SP Investigation Kohat Sanaullah Khan briefed the committee that Hina was allegedly shot dead by her cousin on February 6 in her house. According to the initial investigation, the woman was killed by her cousin Mehboob Alam and he was considered to be the prime suspect. The first information report was lodged in the presence of her sister.

He said that Hina's sister nominated seven more people in the case. The committee was informed that four men including one from Rawalpindi allegedly involved in the killing have been arrested.

He assured the committee that four more accused who were still at large would soon be arrested.  Sultan Muhammad Khan on behalf of the committee said the accused should be arrested forthwith and the report should be submitted to the committee at the earliest.

The committee directed the police to protect the family of the deceased woman and carry out fair and impartial investigation into the case.  The Standing Committee unanimously decided that the next meeting would be held in Kohat and the MPAs would visit the family of the murdered woman.