KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday ordered the police to provide protection to the family of Tania Khaskheli, the teenage girl who was murdered by a local influential man for refusal to marry him.
Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh also ordered the provincial police chief to supervise himself the investigation of the murder case that exposed the strong feudal culture still prevalent in the rural areas of the country.
Khaskheli, who was a student of grade 10 in Jhangara village in Jamshoro district, was gunned down by Khan Mohammad Khanwani, a local landlord and politician, on September 7. The suspect managed to remain free by exploiting his influence on the local police.
The matter came to light because of media reports that depicted the ordeal of the victim’s family, who demanded from authorities justice for their daughter.
The provincial chief justice took notice of the case and ordered the police to report to his court about the progress on it.
A senior police officer of Jamshoro district submitted a report to the court that Khanwani was arrested and the police also had recovered the gun used for the murder.
The police further told the court that a case was registered against the accused under anti-terrorism act. The station house officer as well as his assistant were also suspended for committing negligence in their duties. Assistant superintendent of police, Sehwan, was assigned to head the investigation.
The police also gave assurance to the court that protection was being given to the family of Khaskheli.
The provincial court adjourned the case until September 29.
