PESHAWAR: The Women Action Forum, a women rights group, has expressed concern about the recent killing of three young women, whose charred bodies were found in the provincial capital, and attempts to influence the investigation into the incident.

In a news release issued here on Friday, the WAF said the incident had shocked all and sundry as the burnt-down bodies of the women, stated to be between 18 to 24 years of age, were found dumped in Chan Mari locality of Tehkal area in Peshawar district.

It said it was a matter of anguish that the detestable crimes of killing women and burning their bodies were taking place even in the 21st century.

The WAF said it believed that nobody could have dared resort to such a gruesome act had those, who had committed similar crimes in the past, been brought to justice. It flayed ‘unscrupulous elements for casting aspersions about the character of the murdered women to influence the police’s investigation’ and said nobody was there to defend the victims of violence. The WAF demanded a fair and speedy probe into the incident for the punishment of culprits.

Published in Dawn October 22nd, 2016