Punjab DIG to investigate British woman's suspected 'honour killing'

British woman's parents killed her for converting to Shia faith: husband By AFP Published: July 29, 2016 27 SHARES Share Tweet Email Samia Shahid. PHOTO: TELEGRAPH Samia Shahid. PHOTO: TELEGRAPH The husband of a British woman who was killed in Pakistan called for the UK and Pakistani governments to ensure his wife received justice Thursday, as he sought to keep the spotlight on so-called honour killings. Mukhtar Kazam presented a copy of the post-mortem report into his wife Samia Shahid’s death — seen by AFP — at an emotional press conference, which said the 28-year-old had marks on her neck, and suggested she had been strangled. Man alleges British wife killed for ‘honour’ in Pakistan Kazam has branded her death an “honour killing”, a near daily occurrence in Pakistan in which a relative is murdered by another for bringing the family “dishonour”. The practice was dragged into the international spotlight earlier this month with the killing of Qandeel Baloch, a polarising Pakistani social media star. Her brother has confessed to the murder, saying his sister’s behaviour had been “intolerable”. Kazam sought to keep international attention on “honour” killings when he spoke to media assembled in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, close to the capital Islamabad Thursday. “I request the British and Pakistani governments to conduct a fair trial,” he said. Police yet to decide Mufti Qavi’s role in Qandeel ‘honour killing’ Kazam and Shahid, both British-Pakistani dual citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai, police told AFP, adding that it was Shahid’s second marriage. Kazam said his wife converted to Shia, his sect, before their wedding, which had irked her parents. In a complaint to police he has claimed she was murdered during a visit to her family in their village in Punjab province on July 20. Shahid’s father has denied the charges and said he did not want an investigation, claiming his daughter died of natural causes. The victims of “honour” killings are overwhelmingly women, with hundreds killed each year. They have long polarised Pakistan, with progressives calling for tough legislation against them and conservatives resisting. Punjab DIG to investigate British woman’s suspected ‘honour killing’ But the murder of Qandeel Baloch appears to have spurred politicians to take action. Last week the law minister announced that bills aimed at tackling loopholes that facilitate “honour” killings would soon be voted on by parliament. Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan. ======================================================= Punjab DIG to investigate British woman's suspected 'honour killing' By Reuters Published: July 28, 2016 LAHORE: The government on Thursday appointed a senior police official to investigate the death of a British woman whose husband alleges she was killed for marrying him against her parents’ wishes. The case has attracted attention because it comes days after the high-profile ‘honour killing’ of outspoken social media star Qandeel Baloch by her brother. Samia Shahid, 28, a beautician from Bradford who had gone to visit her family in Pakistan, died last week in the village of Pandori in northern Punjab, the political power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif appointed Deputy Inspector General Police Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh as the investigating officer. Man alleges British wife killed for ‘honour’ in Pakistan “We are treating this as a very high-profile case of high priority,” said police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar. Police had not made any arrests but had questioned Shahid’s father and were searching for her divorced first husband, Choudhry Shakeel, who was missing. Her second husband, Kazim Mukhtar, told media on Thursday that they had both received death threats from her family in the past. Her relatives have said she died of natural causes. Less than two weeks ago, 26-year-old Qandeel, who had divided opinion in the deeply conservative Muslim society by regularly posting risqué photos on social media, was strangled by her brother. Police yet to decide Mufti Qavi’s role in Qandeel ‘honour killing’ Police officer Aqeel Abbas said bruising found on Shahid’s neck could have occurred while her body was being moved or buried. “She was asthmatic and diabetic,” he said. “The forensic report will reveal the real cause of her death.” Shah’s husband Kazim Mukhtar said he believed she had been poisoned and then strangled. “I have received the post-mortem report that says there is a 19-cm long reddish bruise on her neck, which strengthens my doubts,” he told Reuters. Read more: honour killing , Samia Shahid