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Five women buried alive in Pakistan: report
by hussain | August 29, 2008 at 11:01 pm | 1850 views | 29 comments | 45 recommendations
In insurgency-plagued Balochistan province of Pakistan, some people are compelled to live like animals even in the 21st century as instead of law of the land brutal punishments are still in vogue in some tribes.
A recent report about burial alive of five women has shocked every Pakistani. Interestingly, brother of a sitting provincial minister belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party of late Benazir Bhutto has been accused of involvement in the heinous crime in the name of tribal tradition. Following report appeared in English-language daily The News International: A nationalist senator from Balochistan, Mir Israrullah Zehri, stunned the Senate on Friday by defending the burial alive of five women in Balochistan terming it an act within Baloch tribal traditions and advised the House not to exaggerate the issue, which triggered a protest by the opposition members. Even Senator Jamal Khan Leghari, while lodging strong protest against the remarks, said that he was also a Baloch but would not hide the brutal act of violence against women in the name of Baloch traditions. The issue started when Senator Yasmeen Bibi raised the issue of a report appeared in ‘The News’ about the live burial of five women allegedly by a brother of a provincial minister from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). She said the only fault of those innocent women was that they had married according to their choice, which is allowed in Islam. She protested the ‘silence of the government’ on this issue, saying, how anyone could remain silent on this barbaric act. Objecting to observation made by Senator Yasmeen Bibi, Senator Mir Israrullah Zehri of the BNP-A remarked that the Baloch tribe did this action according to tribal traditions. These remarks triggered a protest by the opposition senators. Senator Jamal Khan Leghari said: “I am also a Baloch but would not link the Baloch traditions to such kind of act against humanity. No Baloch can dare to even think of taking such action.” However, Acting Chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali remarked that the incident occurred in his neighbouring tribe and he could not speak on this issue unless the investigation report comes to the House. Opposition Leader Kamil Ali Agha also protested these remarks, saying that such kind of barbaric incidents portray very negative impression about the country. He demanded referring this issue to the Senate Committee on Human Rights. Though Leader of the House Raza Rabbani did not object to referring the issue to the concerned committee, he asked for time till Monday for the report from Balochistan government on the issue. “The federal government had already sought the investigation report from Balochistan government and if the House was not satisfied with the report then this issue would be referred to the House committee,” he added. Rabbani also assured the House that if anyone from the PPP was found involved in the incident action would be taken against him. Meanwhile, Adviser to the prime minister on Interior Rehman Malik has appointed a reputed police officer, Tariq Khosa, to launch a comprehensive and an independent investigation into the shocking incident of burying five women alive in a desert in Balochistan. A brother of a sitting PPP minister in the Balochistan cabinet is being accused of carrying out the heinous crime in the name of honour. Umrani had been allegedly killing women in the past in the name of ‘honour’ without action from any side, which encouraged him to go for a new style of punishment i.e. burying women alive in the desert. Earlier, it was reported that some Umrani tribesmen had taken three girls and their mothers to a desert and buried them alive as a mark of punishment for trying to get married at their own free will.August 29, 2008 at 11:01 pm by hussain, 1850 views, 29 comments
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (29)
at 23:09 on August 29th, 2008
hussain, What a tragedy for these women - simply wanting to marry the man of their choice.
I look forward to updates on this issue as all women should be outraged.
at 23:09 on August 29th, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 23:20 on August 29th, 2008
Ironically, the people who are upholding and defending traditions of this kind claim to be champions of the rights of Baloch people and are sitting in the Parliament.
at 23:43 on August 29th, 2008
Mir Israrullah Zehri need to get some professional help before he kill his wife and daughters...
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Mansoor Ali (not verified)at 01:20 on August 30th, 2008
This issue is a lesson for many who see PPP as a strong supporter of women's rights. PPP is here for looting and just to fill the bag and run away. Pakistan is dieing and the vultures are ready to eat the last part of the meat. Baloch barbarians involved in issue should be hanged..but how it would happen. The Judiciary is paralyzed and those sitting in control are the associates of those barbarians who are ready to bury more women alive.
Pakistan is done!!! just have my words!!!
at 02:06 on August 30th, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff.
It reminds me of how the US supports executions in capitol punishment cases. You can be accused of a crime, not do it, and be executed. Somehow how is that any different than innocent women in Pakistan. I really think Pakistan needs to return to rejoin with India, to help with its failing electorate and governing.
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John R (not verified)at 02:15 on August 30th, 2008
"Honour" violence and killing is a scourge on women. It shouldn't matter what a woman's so-called "crime" is, that is totally irrelevant. There is no excuse whatsoever, to treat women badly and expecially not for going against men's ideals. Such men are simply trying to control women - whether with the hijab, with Sharia or with these vile tribal attacks and killings, it is all about making sure they only have sex with who men want them to.
Although the comments of Mir Israrullah Zehri are extreme and utterly immoral, they are not a world away from politicians in Europe ignoring mistreatment of or inequality for Asian girls and women in Europe. Frequently you hear them defend bad behaviour as "tradition" and "culture" and "religion".
It is time we stopped making excuses. Women in Pakistan should take to the streets. That was how Martin Luther gained civil rights, and that is the only way women will. The western world will not help you unless they think you want it and make it obvious. They would see it as too imperialist and racist to interfere otherwise.
at 02:51 on August 30th, 2008
Do animals kill their females and bury them alive? What kind of government or representatives think this is alright?
What kind of civilization is this that thinks this is acceptable? It's obvious that women are treated worse than animals.
at 04:57 on August 30th, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff. But pls use the Highlighter tool for referring to any external news source
at 05:46 on August 30th, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 05:57 on August 30th, 2008
Our ally in the make-believe "war on terror".
at 06:30 on August 30th, 2008
Hussain, thank you for posting this story. However, I searched The International News, here: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/allupdates.asp and was not able to locate it. Perhaps it is an older story? Also, NowPublic likes it members to use the highlight tool. Please visit the Newsroom for tips on publishing. I would also appreciate it if you could provide a link to the original story. Thanks again.
at 07:04 on August 30th, 2008
Rhonda J Mangus, I'm sorry for inconvenience. In fact, I am not used to the highlight tool and always face threat of power outage while working at my home so I hurriedly copied and pasted the story. Moreover, the original report appeared in the edition of August 25 and the story I posted at NP is follow up the original report. However, following are links of all three stories on the issue published in The News International:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=131772
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=16931
http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=132733
Once again, I apologise for inconvenience.
at 07:19 on August 30th, 2008
hussain, thank you for providing the links and publishing this story. I understand 'issues' with highlight very well. You can also check out NowPublic's Forum where you will find an instructional video on highlighting created by NP Super Editor Jordan, here: http://www.nowpublic.com/newsroom/forum/highlight-masterclass Thanks again.
at 07:44 on August 30th, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 08:27 on August 30th, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. The TV news this morning said they shot them first before throwing them in a ditch. That makes it all better don't you think!(NOT)
at 11:53 on August 30th, 2008
a terrible terrible, shameful act for not only women but all humanity, to be condemned in the strongest of ways. however, a lot of times the tribal people in pakistan have other ulterior motives behind such heinous crimes and women are made the scapegoats. the criminals cite 'tradition', 'custom' etc...all excuses to cover up for greed/property...whatever, and want to get away with such barbaric acts of 'honour killings' that are no more than murders.
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HMS Sunset (not verified)at 17:14 on August 30th, 2008
How many Balochistanis are there now living in Canada. Because with our Muliculturalism ideology in place here (for 25 years) , we have been telling people coming from round the world to come live here and do and act as they like. Honor killing (Toronto, Vancouver) has now become a Canadian value.
Fedral elections are coming. Should not multiculturalism and immigration be part of the discussions ?
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shahid khan (not verified)at 04:32 on August 31st, 2008
This an utter disgrace to Pakistan and to the Baluch people. I as a Baluch regards this crime
to have been committed by thugs who should pay for it with their lives. Hiding behind concocted
traditions is a cowardly act Mr Zehri.
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amita sampat (not verified)at 08:53 on August 31st, 2008
what else do you expect from the followers of a man mohommad who at the age of 55 yeras married a 10 year old girl called Ayesha. Islam is a crime by itself
at 10:06 on August 31st, 2008
We are here on this news site to find out what is happening in the world and besides that to touch base with as many of the thousands of cultures as might also show up here. Jingoism and other isolationisms won't go far anymore.
at 09:48 on August 31st, 2008
Amita Sampat, please avoid maligning Islam because it is not fault of this religion of peace. Perhaps, you are so much ignorant that you do not know about repurcussions of this bad remark. I do not know anything about your religion, otherwise I could have replied in a befitting manner.
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PauLC (not verified)at 15:52 on August 31st, 2008
Why doesnt any male come to their aid.What dumb-ass customs.I'd round up the wholebloody lot involved and shoot them. This bullshit of male superiority is crap.I know a few Paki women and they are fine intelligent upstanding caring people.
at 21:25 on August 31st, 2008
Don't worry. The issue has already been taken up by the media and rights organisations. However, such black sheep are always there in every society. Pakistan has a lot of upright and realistic men and women. In fact, such cases occur where self-proclaimed leaders keep people ignorant by design.
at 21:29 on August 31st, 2008
hussain, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 01:11 on September 1st, 2008
Good stuff. Disturbing stuff. Islam is not to blame, I converted (still very happy about it) allah forbids such crimes. Tyrants and oppresors will burn in hell.
at 03:30 on September 1st, 2008
Of course, it has nothing to do with Islam. Rather, it seems continuation of pre-Islamic 'tribal traditions' about which nobody knows when they came into fashion.
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PauLc (not verified)at 04:33 on September 1st, 2008
"self-proclaimed leaders keep people ignorant by design"..The whole world is under the clamor of ignorance.We are very rarely given the truth,but education goes a long way to righting this wrong.It seems to me that a lot of Islamic countries are kept in the dark ages just to keep the hierarchy firmly screwed in place.Viva the education revolution.
at 06:18 on September 1st, 2008
There are some regions, where people embraced Islam but sticked to their tribal traditions. Moreover, colonial rulers created landlords to establish their hegemony and those landlords discouraged promotion of education fearing end to their hegemony despite departure of the colonial rulers. Remember, Islam has nothing to with such matters because it exhorts its followers to seek knowledge from crade to grave.