Several men humiliate a woman publicly over property face-off.

Several men humiliate a woman publicly over property face-off.
By: Jawad Mazhar

Sialkot, Pakistan (ROD) June 08th: A woman was abused and obscenely hurled derogatory remarks at her publicly over a property dispute here at village Allowali in the Cant Police Station limits today Tuesday June 08th. ‘Rays of Development (ROD) Organization’ Fact Finding Team (RFFT) unearthed the facts after painstaking efforts.

RFFT comprising of Adnan Saeed, Ashir Emmanuel, Nadeem Samuel, Adil Naseem, Ms Danish Mazher led by ROD executive member Imran Mazher visited the village and met victimized woman identified as Suraya Begum a resident of village Sidh of district Sialkot.

Suraya Begum told RFFT that she had a property row with a man Muhammad Bashir and that the matter was sub judice

Replying to a question by RFFT Suraya Begum asserted today May 08th, Muhammad Bashir accompanied by his sons Aftab Bashir and Shehzad Bashir forcibly tried to unlock her property and illegal occupy it.

RFFT learnt that Begum resisted to the three strong men namely Muhammad Bashir and his two sons Aftab Bashir and Shehzad Bashir, she allegedly added, but they over powered her, stripped off her garments, brutally subjected her to physical torture and dragged her in the streets of the village.

Showing her finger Suraya Begum said three miscreants broke her finger and after ripping apart her clothes they compelled her to run in the streets of village.

RFFT contacted the local Cant Police Station in this line and was told that they have filed an FIR (First Information Report) against the three accomplices and investigations were underway. However till the writing of these lines on the night of Tuesday June 08th, all the three (03) culprits were at large. However Station House Officer (SHO / Sheriff) pledged to bring the perpetrators to the book.
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Ferhan Mazher (Mr.)
(Chairman of ROD endorses that the above written report is true and credible up to my best knowledge)
Note: No part of this report can be used in any way or form without the written permission of Chairman ROD.
(END)

Human market in Gujranwala. Over 400 children sold.

Human market in Gujranwala.
Over 400 children sold.
By: Jawad Mazhar (Rays of Development Organization’s Fact Finding Team (RFFT))

Gujranwala, Pakistan (RFFT) Jan 11th: A rights and advocacy group ‘Rays of Development Organization’s Fact Finding Team’ (RFFT) discovered a human market where children of hapless and deplorably poor parents, unable to make their both ends meet during this 21st century of cutting edge technology, were available for sale. RFFT investigated the matter deeply.

This hideous and sinister human market place, belittling humanity, violating all human rights and mocking human rights champions, is none other than a rural area Thairi Sansee # 1 and 2 which sits just off the Grand Trunk Road (G T road) near industrial hub Gujranwala in Pakistan’s province Punjab. RFFT established.

According to the details obtained by RFFT about this inhuman Human Market of appallingly poor children, over 400 children were sold for the sum of Pakistani Rupees 20,000/- (US $ 253/-)to Pakistani Rupees 30,000/- (US $ 380/-).

RFFT report also said that more than 70% residents of village Thairi Sansee # 1 & 2 are professional beggars and apart from this they sell their children to the elite of the society, to be their slaves for the whole life span. The report of rights group said that a large variety of children, from little breast-suckers to teen-agers are put on display in this Human Market. And people come to see them and they bargain for discount as well.

The news of this Human Market surfaced after a sold child managed to escape from his master. The child identified as Naveed 6, approached Child Protection Bureau, a state run child rights protection institution. Naveed told RFFT that his master used to thrash him with scorching iron rods, showing scars of violence. However Naveed’s father Shabbir Ahmad took stance that he was appallingly poor and helpless in this regard and he had no other choice but to sell Naveed to feed his other children.

RFFT report also said that agents extort 20% commission from helpless and impoverished parents of such children. And this illegal and inhuman practice has become an industry.

(The facts in this report are true and obtained by untiring efforts of ROD Fact Finding Team comprising of Imran Mazher, Nadeem Samuel, Adnan Saeed, Adil Naseem and Jawad Mazhar)

Report recommended by:

Mr. Ferhan Mazher,
Chairman,
‘Rays of Development Organization’, Sargodha, Pakistan’
Email: Office.ROD@gmail.com OR Chairman.ROD@gmail.com
Skype: Jawad.Mazhar
Website: RaysOfDevelopmentOrganization.BlogSpot.Com

Obdurate father gives his puerile daughter in Vanni*.

Obdurate father gives his puerile daughter in Vanni*.
(* Vanni is a deeply rooted evil tradition in which girls are tied up in wedlock to settle family enmities.)
Mother reaches Police Station to get help, redeem her innocent little girl.
Written by: Jawad Mazhar (Rays of Development Organization Fact Finding Team (RFFT))

Mianwali, Pakistan (RFFT) Aug 14th: Fateh Muhammad, a murderer and a stone hearted father gave away his naïve daughter Fakhera Bibi 10, in marriage to the deceased Aalam Khan’s son Shaffi-Ullah 30, in order to save himself and settle down his personal enmity here at Dera Ghulam Muhammad, Mianwali an unsophisticated backward area of the Punjab province of Pakistan on August 2nd, 2008. On the clamors of the helpless mother Maher Khatoon, Police Station Paie Khaiyl registered a case, arrested and sent six men to the jail including cruel father of the girl Fateh Muhammad, bridegroom Shaffi-Ullah, cleric Mufti Maulana Sultan Ahmed who solemnized the matrimonial ceremony and witnesses of the wedding Mr. Ghulam, Mr. Rehmat-Ullah and Mr. Aziz-Ullah alias Mahiya, under articles 310/109-A and 34 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Civil Judge Mianwali Raffaqat Ali Qammar handed over the small girl to the mother Maher Khatoon to whom her (Victim girl Fakhera Bibi’s) father had divorced 9 years back. RFFT has learnt through well placed local sources.


It is pertinent to mention here that Fateh Muhammad murdered his real brother Aalam Khan 14 (fourteen) years ago at Dera Rajukhaiylaanwalla, Mianwali. Since then a case had been registered against him at Police Station Mouch under article 302 of PPC. It is important to mention that Fateh Muhammad was a fugitive in that case and police had been looking for him. Moreover he had also divorced his wife and girl’s mother Maher Khatoon. After the divorce the couple parted their ways and innocent little girl Fakhera Bibi and her little brother Dilawar Khan were residing with their mother Maher Khatoon.

On August 2nd of this year Fateh Muhammad put up his case in front of a jury of the local elders. Against the Pakistani law, panel of the local elders gave their decision that Fateh Muhammad should give his child girl Fakhera Bibi 10, to Shaffi-Ullah 30 to tie a knot, in order to end the longstanding enmity. Shaffi-Ullah is the plaintiff and son of the murdered Aalam Khan.

Due to the courage of the mother Maher Khatoon her little daughter Fakhera Bibi is saved from this heinous tradition of ‘Vanni’.

Ferhan Mazher, Chairman of ‘Rays of Development Organization’ (ROD) said that all women should be bold and courageous like mother of little Fakhera Bibi. He said that in our society women and girls are considered as chattel, which is inhuman attitude. He went on saying that Maher Khatoon’s courage saved the life of her daughter.

Mazher added that ROD is doing its best to impart the message of equality of women. He maintained that ROD is using Street Theater as an effective tool to disseminate the message that all women should be given their basic rights without any sort of discrimination on the grounds of sex. He also condemned this atrocious incident and admired the boldness of Fakhera Bibi’s mother and police for their prompt action in this regard. He went on saying that together we can make a difference and together we will make it.

The rationalization of viciousness with a woman who is justified in front of the society.

The rationalization of viciousness with a woman who is justified in front of the society.

Written by: KHADIJAH SHAH (RAYS OF DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION)

SARGODHA, Pakistan:On the 2nd June, 08, at 10:30 am, a meeting was held in the SP Investigating office Sargodha, to solve the dispute between the two parties. Waheeda Noureen, her neighborhood as well as the three criminals who violated her chastity were called. Rosy Deevan, the General Secretary, Nadeem Sameul and Imran Mazher of the Rays Of Development Organization, attended the meeting. Besides them was the Chairman of TANG Organization, Dr. Ahmad Khan. The Vice President Shameem Akhtar and the President of Women Wing Org, PPP Sargodha and the social worker Jameela were also side to side in these proceedings. They all tried to convince both the parties, especially the poor victim, to make the both ends meet in the presence of the media.

With the help of logic and argument, by measuring all the pros and cons of that incident, it was decided that those three men will apologize to the woman at the same spot where they tore her clothes and beat her down. They will return all her belongings which they snatched from her and will touch her feet in front of all with a promise that they will never ever dare to attempt such a devilish task again and will respect women as well as accept their highly regarded status in the society. As far as related to the consequence of that ASI Investigating Officer, Mohammad Luqman, it was enough insult that the case was taken from him.

On the same day at 6:30pm, in the evening, they all gathered on that spot and those three men apologized to Waheeda Noureen and she accepted it. Was that enough to satiate the tormented soul of that woman? Was she properly justified? How can she be justified if the criminals were just given another chance to reform themselves? She was not satisfied nor can she ever forget what happened to her. But there was no other remedy as adding fuel to fire might become the cause of a destructive result.

Report Recommended by: Ferhan Mazher (Chairman of Rays Of Development Org).

A Pathetic epoch of viciousness with a woman who is a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother.
Written by: KHADIJAH SHAH (RAYS OF DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION)

A protest was organized by a Human Rights NGO, Rays Of Development in Press Club , Sargodha District. The main intention was to endow the citizens, especially women, with their equal rights. The protest was against the negligence of police in the case of a victim named Waheeda Noureen w/o Mohammad Akbar, a poor woman 35 years old, a mother of six children, who faced the brutal attack and violence of the wild members of society.

On the 20th may 2008 at 10:30 am, she went to the post office and took the amount of 10,000 with her for some urgency. As soon as she entered her area, she faced an encounter of three men named Mohammad Aish, Mohammad Ismael and one unknown person. They started beating her without any specific reason or may be to show that she was inferior to them. They tormented her and pulled her through her hair mercilessly in the market place. They tattered her clothes and beat her down in the street. They snatched the amount of 10,000, a gold neck chain and a mobile phone of approximately 3,000, from her. Due to the hue and cry many people gathered there. Two men of Waheeda’s neighborhood named Mohammad Javed and Mohammad Iqbal, pleaded for mercy infront of those beastly men, to leave the poor victim. They left her but took with them her money as well as robbed her of her chastity, as they made her body exposed in the public area and did a great deal of offence by sitting over her as if she was a quadruped.

She on that specific day she went to the factory area Police Station. There she reported each and everything to the ASI investigating officer Mohammad Luqman. Though he was a senior officer but he did not take serious steps. He sent her to the DHQ hospital for check up. In the medical report there were many face injuries and scratches of nails which depict the violence.

The victim regularly kept on going to the Police station in sake of lodging an FIR and on the 24th May 2008 FIR was lodged according to the FIR no: 150, which was not at all sufficient. 25 witnesses spoke in the favor of Waheeda. The criminals were caught but were soon left without giving them any kind of punishment. The case was needed to be lodged under the article 337/l-2, 392 and 354/PPC. But this case was only given the article 354/PPC.

Due to this reason this victim came to the office of Rays of Development Human Rights Ngo, and requested for help. The Human Rights Organization welcomed her warmly and promised her to provide her justice. Rays of Development played the leading role in this case. On 1st June 2008 at 11:30 at press club a protest was held. In that protest many leading personalities, approximately 40 NGOs and people took part. It was a procession of 100 people who belonged to different professions, men as well as women, holding banners in their hands in opposition to the police force, took out a rally on the City Road and blocked the traffic for half an hour. Their demand was to provide Waheeda justice and punish the criminals as well as the ASI investigating officer Mohammad Luqman, because of his negligence. The procession then returned to the press club showing their anger in the form of raising slogans against police force.

In this appeal the NGOs played a magnificent role. The Rays Of Development Org arranged this protest in the Press Club, in the assistance of General Secretary Rosy Dewan and Ferhan Mazher Chairman of Rays Of Development Org.. Besides them stood the TAANGH WASIAB Tanzeem's Chairperson Dr. Ahmad Khan, the Legal advisor Hassan Muhammad Khan, Zilla Sadar PPP Human rights and his other team members attended the protest. Aizaz-e-Niswan org played its important role under the guidance of Madam Naseem Gorge. STAR NGO’s Chairperson Riffat Rani, all Pakistan minority alliance’s main member Farukh Tanvir and President of Human Rights Committee Shiekh Mohammad Hafeez Khilan Sahib also played a vital role. MRJAN Chairperson of Welfare Society Dr. Ishrat Ali. APMA Nazim of Factory Area Chaudhary Mohammad Arshad, Haji Mohammad Arif, Ahmad Din, Dr. Naseer Ahmad the Chairman of Ashar-o-Zakat Committee, Sabiq Chaudhary, Mohammad Asghar, Jameela Bibi, Shameem Akhtar, Chairman of International Committee Human Rights Malik Inam-ul-Haq, from Ulema Council Syed Qurban Hussain Bukhari and member of Punjab Council PP Maulana Abdul Haleem and Maulana Nisar Ahmad also showed their crucial presence in the pageant.

Division President of Human Rights Committee Sargodha District PP Syed Tanvir Bukhari also attended the protest and encouraged those who were raising slogans. Media surrounded the whole procession and the security was tight. No violence was shown and the procession was peacefully held. Waheeda in the pleading way cried in front of the media for help her in providing security as she has been receiving threats from those people. If she will not be provided with security the she will linger in front of the prime minister house without eating anything till her last breadth. For further investigation the criminals are called on the 2nd June, 08. It is the demand of the NGOs that RPO and DPO of Sargodha should give concrete punishments to the criminals. The NGOs while talking to the media told that the cases of women aggression are escalating day by day and the Government of Punjab should pay serious attention on this matter.

Subsequently, the SHO of the factory area Police Station, Zameer-ul-Hassan informed the protestors that the Suprintendant Police SP investigation has held this case in their hand and assured them that now they will handle this case and provide the poor victim Waheeda with justice.




Report Recommended by: Ferhan Mazher (Chairman of Rays Of Development).

Ghazala 9, being forced into childhood marriage, by father.

Ghazala 9, being forced into childhood marriage, by father.

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Sargodha, Pakistan, March 16^th (ROD): ‘Rays of Development Organization’ (ROD) had to step in to foil the malicious act of the marriage of 9 (Nine) years old girl child Ghazala with Abid 15, at Faazal Town, Sargodha. New Satellite Town (NST) police took immediate action against Ijaz alias Babu, the father of the naïve child Ghazala, responsible for this sinister act, at the report of ROD.

ROD has learnt that Ijaz alias Baabu was getting married to the daughter of Mansoor Ahmed and in exchange he promised to give the hand of her innocent little daughter Ghazala 8 to Abid 15, the son of Mansoor Ahmed.

This heinous practice is called ‘Watta Satta’ (exchange) in Pakistan. It is deeply rooted into the society. According to the ‘Watta Satta’ custom girls are exchanged and tied into the wedlock between two families. Often this evil custom is carried out in a bid to settle down enmities or other disputes.

New Satellite Town police station has taken Bridegroom Abid 15, Ghazala’s grandmother Banno Bibi and Ijaz alias Baabu into custody and stopped the marriage ceremony. Participants of the matrimonial ceremony and parents of the bridegroom Abid successfully escaped. The court has handed over the guardianship of Ghazala over to her close kin Gulzar.

Chairman ROD, Mr Ferhan Mazher has condemned this heinous episode saying that ROD is doing its best to ensure the provision and protection of equal rights of women in the Pakistani Society. He further expressed his outrage by adding that woe on those men who think that a woman is their property or asset. ROD protested against this atrocity in front of Press Club Sargodha.

Pakistan human rights body observes International Women Day

Pakistan human rights body observes International Women Day

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Sargodha, Pakistan March 8^th (ROD): A handsome number of minority women assembled at All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) zonal secretariat to observe the International Women Day (IWD) on March 8^th, here at Sargodha, Pakistan under the aegis of Rays of Development Organization (ROD). Majority of the women were from the marginalized Christian minority of the predominantly Muslim state of Pakistan.

Spouse of the newly elected APMA’s member of the Punjab Assembly Mrs Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, Farukh Tanvir, Member of District Assembly of Sargodha Ms Rubina, Rosy Dewan (ROD), Sheraz Khurram Khan (Assist News Service, USA), Ms Mary and Chairman of ROD Mr Ferhan Mazher addressed the women, who had flocked to mark the IWD.

Mr Furrukh Tanvir of APMA asserted that women in Pakistan are living in pathetic condition. He added that they have to face discrimination even at their homes; they are being assaulted or harassed physically, mentally and sexually in their every day life in the conservative Pakistani society. Mr Furrukh vowed that the elected representatives of APMA would do every thing to raise the stifled voice of Pakistani women in the national and provincial assemblies. He also pledged to ensure the provision and protection of equal rights of women.

Mrs Tahir Naveed Chaudhary called for treatment of women on the basis of equality and ensured that APMA representatives will ensure necessary legislation in this regard.

Talking to ROD Fact Finding Team, she said that women hailing from the minorities should be given reserved seats and government should allocate 10% seats for the minority women from 33% quota of the women reserved seats.

Speaking on the occasion Sheraz Khurram Khan, the Special Correspondent for Assist News Service USA said that women are an integral part of our society and women belonging to the minorities’ communities suffer to a greater extent because of their faith.

He referred to some incidents in the past where the culprits had singled out minority women for rape. Condemning domestic violence he urged minority women to stand up for their rights.

Chairman of ‘Rays of Development Organization’ (ROD), Ferhan Mazher said that ROD is striving altruistically for the feminism, provision and protection of equal rights of women. He went on saying that ROD wishes to eradicate all sorts of gender based violence and envisions a society where women enjoy equal rights, freedom and justice.

The event culminated in a peaceful manner, all the participants stood up, joined their hands to show solidarity and prayed for the equal rights, freedom and prosperity of the women.