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Husband Says Pakistan Police Stood By As Wife Beaten To Death


The husband of a Pakistani woman who was stoned to death for marrying against her family's wishes says police stood by as his wife was killed.

Farzana Parveen, 25, was attacked by a mob of men, including her own relatives, in Lahore on May 27.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, Muhammad Iqbal said he shouted for officers standing nearby to help his wife, but no one responded.

Parveen's father is in police custody. Police say they are hunting for the other men.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay urged Pakistan to take "urgent measures" to end honor killings.

Khawar Mumtaz, chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, said Punjab's chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, must find and punish the perpetrators.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also urged Sharif, his brother, to act.

Mumtaz said a loophole in Pakistani law allows members of the same family who are involved in honor killings to escape punishment.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
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