27 February 2004	Friday	06 Muharram 1425

ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Around 100 women rights activists staged a protest demonstration at Aabpara Chowk on Thursday, and condemned the kidnapping and murder of two minor girls in Karachi a few days ago.

The demonstration was organized by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Women Action Forum (WAF) and Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), which comprises various NGOs.

Sassi, aged 5, and eight-year-old Hajra went missing on February 21. On February 23, the bodies of the girls were recovered from a veterinary hospital which was in the use of a police station. The girls had been kidnapped and later killed in Memon Goth in the jurisdiction of Gadap police.

The parents of the girls reportedly approached the SHO of the police station, but he refused to register an FIR. However, on the intervention of Sindh governor, an FIR was registered against three policemen.

The demonstrators were holding placards with remarks such as "Beasts in uniform", "shame, shame: Pakistan is a signatory to the child rights convention", "our children feel insecure in police state", etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Tahira Abdullah, Convenor JAC, condemned the incident and said the alleged involvement of policemen in the incident put a big question mark on the entire police system in the country.

"The killing of Sassi and Hajra is the tip of the iceberg of what has been happening with women of the country, sometimes in the name of honour killings and sometimes for property sake in rural areas," she added.

She said such incidents were happening all over the country but nobody in the government nor any political party seemed concerned. She demanded exemplary punishments for the culprits to stop other people from committing such heinous crimes.

Harris Khalique of the SPO said it was shameful on part of the government that despite tall claims made by the state, violence against all vulnerable groups, including women, children and minorities, was increasing day by day.

He said the weaker sections of society had always been subjected to atrocities, and they needed to be safeguarded on a permanent basis. Naeem Mirza, Resident Director Aurat Foundation, said it was ironic that there was an unprecedented representation of women in the assemblies but violence against women have increased at an alarming speed.

"What is the use of having such a large number of women parliamentarians if they couldn't protect women rights." Criticizing President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, he said, "we are living under worst conditions where weaker sections of society are being victimized.

"When a parliamentarian is stopped for violating traffic rules, immediately a privilege motion is passed", he said, adding, "what a pity that they remain unmoved on such horrendous crimes."

He, however, appreciated the role of media for courageously highlighting such dreadful incidents and giving wake-up calls to the quarters concerned. He warned that if the responsible policemen were not given exemplary punishment a countrywide movement would be launched.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has taken serious note of the rape and killing of two minor girls allegedly by four policemen in Gadab town, Karachi.

In an official statement here on Thursday, the commission said the incident had shocked the whole nation. The chairperson of the commission, Justice (retired) Majida Rizvi, in a letter to the Sindh governor, has demanded a thorough investigation of the crime and exemplary punishment to the culprits without delay.

The statement added that the commission would closely monitor the investigation and follow-up in the case. It may be added here that two minor girls Sassi and Hajra have been missing since February 21.