A/HRC/25/60/Add.2 (b) UA 12/07/2013 Case No. PAK 4/2013 State Reply: 18/07/2013 (Only acknowledging receipt of communication) Reported death of Ms. Shamim Akhter and her sister, Ms. Tasleem Akhter, and the attacks and death threats to their family members, including Mr. Ehtesham and Mr. Shafiq Arain. 119. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the acknowledgement of receipt by the Government of Pakistan, received 18 July 2013, but regrets no further response has been received regarding this communication in reference to the reported death of Ms.X and her sister, Ms. Y and the attacks and death threats to their family members, including Mr. XX and MrXY. Ms X was a human rights defender working for women’s rights with a local non-government organization named Social Welfare Organization. On 4 June 2013, Ms. Y was brutally attacked in her residence in Hyderabad. It was reported that the alleged perpetrators cut off her hands, ears and fingers, gouged both of her eyes and robbed valuable jewelry. She was later found in her apartment by a family member, Mr. XX, who brought her to a civil hospital where she soon died as a result of her injuries. It was alleged that those accused of killing Ms. Y were exonerated based on fabricated grounds and as a result the Hyderabad police refrained from launching an investigation. Reportedly, Ms. X and Mr. XX received death threats for pursuing the case of Ms. Y. On 29 June 2013, Ms. X was fatally killed by three armed men, at least one of whom was allegedly involved in the murder of her sister, Y. It was reported that Mr. X, another family member, was also receiving death threats for pursuing the case of Ms. X. In this context, the Special Rapporteur reiterates paragraph 8a of Human Rights Council Resolution 16/23, which reminds States that “Intimidation and coercion, as described in article 1 of the Convention against Torture, including serious and credible threats, as well as death threats, to the physical integrity of the victim or of a third person can amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or to torture.” In the absence of other evidence, the Special Rapporteur concludes that Pakistan is responsible for the violation of the rights to life and physical and psychic integrity of these persons. The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government to undertake a prompt and independent investigation into the reported death of Ms. Shamim Akhter and Ms. Tasleem Akhter, leading to prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators. (c) UA 04/09/2013 Case No. PAK 5/2013 State Reply: 04/09/2013 (Only acknowledging receipt of communication) Allegations of violence and ill-treatment, including an attempt to kill, Ms. Ghulam Fatima, and threats to journalists and human rights defenders working in Sahiwal, Punjab. 120. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the acknowledgement of receipt by the Government of Pakistan, received 4 September 2013, but regrets no further response has been received regarding this communication in reference to allegations of violence and illtreatment, including an attempt to kill Ms. X, and threats to journalists and human rights defenders working in Sahiwal, Punjab. Allegations of acts of violence, harassment and intimidation of women and human rights defenders were the subject of a previous communication sent on 12 July 2013. An acknowledgement of receipt for it was sent on 18 July 2013; however, further response to this previous communication is still awaited from the Government of Pakistan. In the present communication it was reported that, on 13 August 2013, Ms. X was abducted by a group of around six people, beaten, dragged by her hair, forced to parade through a busy local market, taken to the group’s gang leader and tied to a tree inside a compound, where she was further subjected to serious acts of violence. Reportedly, people in the vicinity heard her cries and contacted the police station. Just as she was about to be hanged and killed, Ms. X was rescued by a police officer from the Kamir Police Station. Reportedly, X was threatened and harassed a number of times by the same group of persons after being asked to sell her home at a price dictated by this group. It was also alleged that activists and human rights defenders who provide legal aid to individuals victimized by this group are often threatened by the group. It was reported that 88