September 04, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 3, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Wednesday condemned a heinous act of burying five women in Balochistan alive in the name of honour and urged the government not to let the criminals go scot-free.

The NCSW chairperson, Syeda Zehra, and members of the commission expressed sorrow over the heinous crime against humanity. “The gruesome act is condemned in the strongest words,” they said in a press release issued by the commission.

They were of the view that burying alive of five women in Naseerabad district, Balochistan, was a denial of basic human right to life and its protection. “Such crimes in the name of ‘honour’ remind us of the dark ages when the brutal power reigned supreme,” they said.

Five women were reportedly buried alive in Balochistan in the name of honour but some Baloch leaders in the Senate have defended the heinous act and said the women had violated Baloch traditions. Syeda Zehra said: “It was Islam which condemned this ‘tribal tradition’ of burying females alive.

In a country where religious fervour takes new shapes and angles everyday, this is happening and happening with no remorse.

The culprits have obviously political links hence the law enforcing agencies initially were hesitant to take proper legal action against the criminals. It is outrageous that such a heinous ugly occurrence could happen to women, as they continue to be refused the basic human rights.”

She said the custodians of honour in their lust for power had no respect for basic human rights as promised by Islam and guaranteed by the constitution, adding that this naked show of crude importance continued to damage the social fibre and succeeded in terrorising the common peaceful citizens.

“It is impossible to tolerate the shocking human tragedy and the way it is being defended as a proud tradition. This misconceived notion of power resounded, in the Senate, where the senators blatantly refuted the crime in the name of culture and tradition.

It is appalling, in an ambience where it is so easy to declare anyone ‘kafir’, this blatant act of ‘Kufr’, against the basic teachings of Islam has so far gone without a remand from religio-political leadership,” she added.