Jirga Members
MANSEHRA: The Kolai-Palas police in Kohistan acted swiftly on Tuesday, apprehending three members of a jirga implicated in the distressing decision to end the life of a young girl. This drastic measure was taken following the circulation of a video on social media. Deputy Superintendent of Police Masood Khan made the announcement, shedding light on an ongoing effort to capture additional individuals who had advised the girl’s family to carry out this heinous act in response to the viral video.
The three arrested men, including two paternal uncles of the deceased girl, are now set to face legal proceedings. They will be presented before the local magistrate for physical remand. Identified as Abdul Qayyum and Mohammad Naseer, these suspects played a pivotal role in the shocking decision made by the jirga, according to police sources.
DSP Khan underscored the active engagement of the police force in conducting raids, particularly in the challenging terrain of the mountainous Barsharyal area of Kolai-Palas (Kohistan). The objective is to locate and apprehend all individuals involved in either orchestrating the murder or contributing to the jirga’s decision-making process.
The father of the victim, initially taken into custody, has now been handed over to the police by the Kolai-Palas magistrate on a seven-day remand. DSP Khan noted that police also produced one of the young men, who could be seen with the slain girl in the video, before the magistrate of the area. His statement was recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The young man claimed he had no idea who uploaded the video or for what purpose.
In parallel with the police investigation, the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cybercrime wing has actively stepped in to verify the authenticity, origin, owner, and operator of the Facebook account responsible for uploading the video.
Deputy Director Mohammad Asif from FIA Cybercrime emphasized a thorough inquiry to uncover the motive behind uploading the video, which was constructed from photos uploaded on a single account. The FIA’s involvement underscores the multidimensional approach to uncovering the truth behind this tragic incident, with both the police and cybersecurity experts collaborating to bring justice to the victim and hold those involved accountable.
