NCSW calls for speedy justice disregarding political influence

ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has demanded shifting of Sharifa Bibi’s family to a safe place with arrangements for their livelihoods.
The recommendation makes part of the NCSW’s fact finding mission report by Consultant Research and Policy for NCSW Rehana Wahga. The mission was conducted in Garrah Matt, D I Khan on November 11, 2017.
On October 27, 2017, a teenage girl, Sharifa Bibi, was forcibly stripped, paraded naked and assaulted on the pretext of the restoration of honor. According to the fact finding report, Sharifa was stopped by the culprits from Kombh and Sehar caste group on her way back to home after fetching water from a nearby pond. She was dragged, her clothes were torn by using scissors and knives on gun points and she was paraded naked in the streets before being confined for 5-6 hours.
After locking Sharifa Bibi at one of the accuser’s house, the Kombh family men went to nearby Chaudhwan Police Station and lodged a fake FIR against men of Sharifa Bibi’s family for kidnapping a woman, Mattu Mai from Kombh family. Later FIR was lodged by Sharifa’s family under Sections 354-A, 342, 148, 149.
It is also learnt that the SHO collaborated with the Kombh family and was reluctant to lodge an FIR when Sharifa Bibi arrived at the police station after getting released from forced custody of the culprits. The same SHO tried to twist the facts reported by Sharifa Bibi and was later on dismissed for doing the same as a result of the pressure from civil society and media.
He report says that Maulvi Rab Nawaz from the accused family instigated the crime by providing the culprits with the justification from religion “haath k badly haath” and advised them to take revenge by dishonouring a woman from Sajjad’s family which led to the violence against Sharifa Bibi. It has been learnt that Sharifa Bibi’s brother, Sajjad, was involved in a relationship with the girl of Kombh family three years ago.
The village council fined Sajjad’s family Rs105,000 to resolve the matter. But somehow payment of the fine did not resolve the issue and men of Kombh family held a grudge against Sajjad and decided to “punish” his sister instead.
Up until the day, eight suspects who were named in the FIR have been arrested but one of the main accused Sajawal is still at large. Sharifa and her family reported to NCSW mission that they are facing security threats whereas the girl was clearly seen as suffering from great trauma in the aftermath of the incidence.
The report suggests emotional rehabilitation for Sharifa to cope with the stigma attached to her and to enable her to lead a normal life. The fact finding mission also stressed for ensuring that financial aid given for Sharifa Bibi reaches her and utilized for her welfare. For that, the commission recommends opening of a bank account in her name. The Commission’s report calls for speedy justice disregarding political influence in order to send a clear message to the society that violence against women will not be tolerated and the culprits will get what they deserve.