Civil society demands justice for victims of Kohistan video case

Islamabad: Civil Society organisations and human rights activists gathered in Islamabad to demand justice in the Kohistan Video Case (Killing of girls by the Jirga in the name of honour).

The case was brought to public notice by the national media in 2012 in which four women and two men were shown singing/clapping and dancing. It was reported that those participating in the celebrations were killed later in the name of honour.

During the press conference, Afzal Kohistani (victims’ brother), Neelum Taru (chairperson of Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, KP), Dr. Farzana Bari (human rights activists), Haseeb Khawaja (human rights activist/ documentary filmmaker) and Fatima Atif (activist/ co-chair, EVAWG) spoke on the Kohistan Video Case.

Dr. Bari briefed on the latest development on the Kohistan Video Case. She said that the inquiry report initiated on the order of the Supreme Court in October, 2016, clearly says that women presented to the committee were imposters.

Afzal Kohistani expressed his deep regrets and disappointment that six accused in the case of triple murder of his brothers have been released by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa High Court. He said Babar Awan has offered him pro-bono legal assistance now to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

Neelum Taru assured full support on behalf of her commission and promised to contact the Home Department to provide protection to Afzal and his brothers.Haseeb Khawaja said due to political interference and manipulation of facts, the Kohsitan Video Case was still pending. “We demand that justice must be dispensed in the Kohistan Video Case without any further delay. This will send a strong signal to the local people in the area that killing of girls in the name of their conservative traditions is a crime that is punishable by the Constitution of Pakistan.”