Woman Killed on Jirga Orders Over Marriage; Exhumation Ordered by Court Today
Rawalpindi:In a chilling case of so-called “honor” justice, a married woman was allegedly murdered on the orders of a tribal jirga. Following a court directive, authorities are set to exhume the victim’s body today for post-mortem examination.
According to police, the jirga was led by Ismatullah, who not only issued the fatal order but also conducted the woman’s funeral prayers after the killing. He has since been arrested.
The woman had recently married a man named Usman in Muzaffarabad on July 12. She had confirmed her marriage before a judicial magistrate, stating it was done with her free will, and that her previous husband had verbally divorced her.
Usman’s father revealed that just four days after the wedding, armed individuals issued threats and demanded the woman be handed back for a formal “rukhsati” (traditional bride departure). The family complied, only to later learn that she had been killed.
Usman has surrendered himself to police for questioning, while the investigation continues into the role of the jirga and other individuals involved.
The case has sparked outrage among human rights activists and legal experts, who are calling for strict action against parallel justice systems like jirgas that operate outside the bounds of the law.
