The following letter was sent to the Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan, urging him to ensure that there is a thorough investigation into the murder and live burial of five women in Pakistan.

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His Excellency Kamran Niaz
Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan
Embassy of Pakistan
2-14-9 Moto-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Japan

August 18, 2008

Your Excellency:

The Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Centre is an organization dedicated to upholding women’s human rights and social justice. We are deeply dismayed to hear of the gruesome killings of five women from the village of Mir Wah, Tehseel Tumboo, in the Naseerabad district of the, Balochistan province, in early July 2008. It is extremely worrisome that the three girls who choose to marry against the wishes of the elders in their tribe and the women who supported these girls were not safe from Jirga-dictated punishment―despite the ban on this type punishment from Pakistan’s higher courts.

It is urgent that police register the killings of these five women: Ms. Fatima, wife of Umeed Ali Umrani, 45 years old; Ms.Jannat Bibi, wife of Qaiser Khan, 38 years old; Ms.Fauzia, daughter of Ata Mohammad Umrani, 18 years; and two other girls, whose names are unknown, between 16 to 18 years of age. It has been over one month since their deaths, and it is unclear what, if any, action has been taken.

Further, we urge you to ensure that a case is opened against Mr. Abdul Sattar Umrani, brother of the provincial minister Mr. Sadiq Umrani, and the six other persons alleged to have abducted these women, beaten the three girls, and buried them all alive. When contacted about the killings, Mr. Sadiq Umrani suggested that only three women had been killed, that the perpetrators were unknown, and that his brother was not involved in this case. However, whether or not Mr. Abdul Sattar Umrani was involved in the killings of these five women, a provincial government vehicle is confirmed to have been involved in the abduction of these women, and we are concerned that this is why police have been reluctant to take action.

In order for those responsible for these shocking and gruesome killings to be brought to justice, we ask you to please insure that immediate and full investigation is taken in this case.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Sincerely,
Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center
14-10-211 Sakuragaoka Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031
Tel: +81-3-3780-5245 Fax:+81-3-3463-9752

Endorsed by:
Friends of RAWA, Japan