Zemira Eli Natan
Executive Director
International Unity for Freedom and Equality
For the first time in the history of Nagarparkar a murder of the the most heinous kind has taken place. The murder took place in Wadari Village, Nagarparkar where three victims were murdered in cold blood. An elderly couple and their son were resting in their sleeping cots when they were brutally murdered in the middle of the night as they and other villagers were sleeping. No one in the village was able to tell Advocate Veerji Kolhi who the perpetrator of this murder was. There was great fear to reveal any details. Advocate Veerji Kolhi returned to the village many times to assist investigators and question the villages to glean any information on the killers. The problem with this investigation is that after a cast was taken of the perpetrators footprints no one seemed to be able to identify the killers. Twenty six suspects were arrested in this case and all twenty six of them went free. Advocate Veerji Kolhi did not stop here. When a team of forensic special investigators brought a dog team to locate the killer, the dogs returned to the same hut twice. The police refused to bring the suspects living there into custody. The perpetrator was among the 26 suspects released from police custody. The very dangerous issue in this case is that the court closed the investigation. I advised Advocate Veerji Kolhi to ask the court to reopen the investigation. According to the Final Report document issued by the Superintendent of Police Tharparkar for the cancellation of FIR dated 4/20/2015 so ordered by the Nagarparkar Judicial Magistrate, the police are still responsible to continue their efforts to the best of their ability to locate and arrest the perpetrator of this horrific crime despite the fact that the investigation was closed. Advocate Veerji Kolhi fully intends to ensure the cooperation of the police in this matter. Two of the victims of this horrible crime were senior citizens age 75 Male and Female age 65. The son was just a teenager about 14- 16 years of age. This was extremely painful for the indigenous people of this land because they have never lived in fear that something like this could ever happen. Despite abductions, they felt that murder could never be an issue. Increasing violent crimes are happening in Sindh which was once a place of relative peace for all people. Now it has become a place where innocent people are regularly targeted just because they have different religious beliefs. For the safety of the victims and their families Advocate Veerji Kolhi has not released the names of the victims. The people are very concerned that since the perpetrator is still at large, there might be a chance that a repeat crime could occur. IUFE demands that the perpetrator be brought to justice immediately with penalty of the full extent of the law. Such a crime is punishible by death and this is what these villagers rightfully are demanding! Their protest is strong and should be heard by all human rights organizations, the presiding court and law enforcement agencies in Sindh to render proper justice to the indigenous people of the land . Thank you Advocate Veerji Kolhi for your briefing on this case and standing with you to continue to demand justice for the villagers in Wadari Village, Nagarparkar.
What can we say this case is all about? Clearly it is an effort by those wishing to threaten any resistance to control of those politicians who want to keep their stronghold in this region. Advocate Veerji Kolhi was requested to surrender his political and social intervention which is the sole protection of the people living in these villages. We cannot allow 10,000 years of indigenous people's legacy to be destroyed under this kind of pressure. Advocate Veerji Kolhi cannot leave his people vulnerable to being forced from their indigenous homeland by Zandibars and Politicians
who deny these people their right to live peacefully and safe from such violent crimes.
We as an international coalition cannot allow them to force their hand. We must all stand in unity to support Advocate Veerji Kolhi in his continuous and brave efforts to protect his people from harm. We ask that International Human Rights organizations be contacted to ensure the protection of the indigenous people of Sindh and protection for the Advocates who defend them.
Zemira Eli Natan
Executive Director
International Unity for Freedom and Equality
Advocate Veerji Kolhi
National Human Rights Convenor Pakistan
International Director
International Unity For Freedom and Equality
Pakistan
"It is the first time in the history of this region that a murder was ever committed.
There have been many abductions but never has there ever been a murder committed here."
----Advocate Veerji Kolhi----
All Photos Courtesy of Advocate Veerji Kolhi and are Copyrighted Material
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