Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Letter sent by SPARC to the Governor NWFP
regarding the detention of children and
women under the FCR. SPARC sent several
letters to the authorities in the past in this
case and some of the women and children got
released. However, in a recent visit to Central
Jail Bannu SPARC found that 13 children and 4
women were still in detention.
July 05, 2005
Commander ® Khalil ur Rehman
H.E. The Governor
The Governor’s House
Peshawar
Re: Detention of children and women under FCR
Sir:
SPARC, an organisation working for the promotion and protection of child
rights in Pakistan, is concerned over the illegal detention of the 15 children
and women, of an alleged criminal’s family under the collective
responsibility clause Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). Children as young
as two to ten years have been convicted by name and are under
detention, which is sad.
The women and children include Hukam Jana wife of Qadir Khan with her
six children five of them convicted by name including Mohammad Siddique,
9 years, Khalil Mohammad 3 years, Razmeena 2 years, Wazir Azam 6 years
and Islam Bibi 7 years, all of them convicted for three years. One year old
Khair Mohammad is also with his mother. Khair Bibi wife of Arsal Khan is
also there with her five children four of whom are convicted by name for
three years including Wasil Khan 10 years, Commissioner Khan 06 years,
Shawal Bibi 5 years and Eman Bibi 7 years. A suckling baby Amrozia is also
with her mother. Tika Bibi wife of Laees Khan is also there with her suckling
baby Momina. There mother in law 70 years old Sanamullah Bibi wife of
Yaar Mohammad Khan is also detained in the Central Jail Bannu with her
children.
The detention of these women and children is against all norms of
humanity and civilised society, and all national and international laws
including the constitution of Pakistan.
Different agencies responsible for law and order have failed to perform
their duties and have now started targeting innocent civilians to bargain
with the outlaws. What is the difference between an outlaw kidnapping
innocent people for ransom and the governmental agencies kidnapping
and detaining innocent women and children for their release?
We at SPARC are concerned with this act of the administration and the
misuse of FCR and urge you to immediately get these innocent women and
children released without any further unnecessary delay. You are also
requested to change the notorious sections of the FCR paving way for the
illegal arrests of the innocent people.
We thank you in anticipation and look forward to a prompt action from your
office in this regard.
Very truly yours,
Arshad Mahmood
Deputy National Coordinator
CC:
The Principal Secretary, The President of Pakistan, Islamabad
The Chief Secretary GoNWFP
The Secretary Home GoNWFP
The Political Agent North Waziristan Agency
National Coordinator SPARC Islamabad