NCHR to become party in Kohistan video scandal case

Islamabad : National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) on Thursday announced to become party in Kohistan video scandal case along with other federal and provincial Commissions. The Commission would facilitate in providing sustainable legal aid to the victim family and protection to them.

The decision was taken in a roundtable organized by the Commission on to discuss future strategy about the Kohistan Video Scandal. The meeting was attended by the members of civil society and other stake holders. The discussion was presided by the NCHR Member ICT Ch. Muhammad Shafique.

The participants of the meeting were of the view that incidents of violence against women are frequently reported in Pakistan and the recent killing of Afzal Kohistan, who exposed the Jirga system and honour killing of five girls in 2012, sows the extent of the issue.

Afzal Kohistani is the brother of the man in the Kohistan scandal video. Disregarding his local code, Afzal brought the wedding video case to national attention in June 2012, when he claimed that the women in the video had been killed by their family and that the lives of his younger brothers, two of whom were seen dancing in the footage, were in danger. The boys were murdered later. Afzal had been demanding the security as he was facing constant threats from the perpetrators.

Speaking at the event, Farzana Bari said that civil society’s role was very disappointing in this case and that from this point onwards only the state institutions like NCHR can be relied upon. “NCHR has supported this case from the very start which affected the investigation of case in positive manner,” said Bari. She recalled the facts that initially eight men were nominated in the FIR who confessed of killing three girls. “Now, all what is happening is to save them,” she said adding that the role of police is doubtful. She demanded a judicial commission to investigate the case properly. She further said that she also fears for her life now because she was pursuing the case very actively with Afzal Kohistani.

Benazir, a human right activist, shared her view that Pakistan Criminal Justice system has failed to provide justice to the victims of Kohistan case. Similarly, a human rights activist Younas Khalid, expressed that now the Kohistan case has extended to Abbottabad which is a settled area and the investigation of the case must be now in systematic and legal way as Abbottabad is not like the Kohistan.

The participants unanimously proposed that a judicial inquiry must be conducted of the case. NCHR Member Ch. Muhammad Shafique assured the participants that Commission would call the local administration of Kohistan and Abbottabad in the next hearing of the case. He said that the NCHR has already directed for report from the DCO and DPO of Abbottabad on the killing of Afzal Kohistani.

It was also proposed that for the better adjudication of case, state must become a party in this case. Moreover, NCHR along with civil society decided to write to the Human Rights Cell of the Peshawar High Court to take up the case as the party. NCHR will also write to Prime Minister regarding the sensitivity of the case and would urge him to take measure to take up this case on priority because the case has been lingering on since 2012 and has taken lives of innocent people.