280 killed on pretext of karo-kari in 9 months
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI: At least 375 women, including 19 minor girls, were murdered and 143 others were injured in the province during the first nine months of 2006, says a report. The report, prepared by the Aurat Foundation, issued on Mondays said more than 280 people, including 176 women, were murdered on the pretext of karo-kari in different parts of Sindh during the year. At least 10 women were raped and murdered, and 20 others were gang-raped, whereas 66 were raped in sindh during the period, and attempt to rape was made on 35 women.
At least 123 women committed suicides while 153 others made attempts to commit suicide owing to increasing unemployment, forced and under age marriages, domestic problems and conflicts, said the NGO study, adding at least 128 women were kidnapped while 56 others were missing. The report says at least 128 couples married through courts after leaving their homes and 126 women were seeking shelter owing to threats to their lives. At least 140 women were arrested by the police under different allegations or in place of their relative male accused who could not be arrested, whereas 51 women, including young girls, were injured during raids in different villages in the interior of Sindh. The report says that despite the ban imposed on jirgas, at least 60 jirgas were held on the women related issues. At least five women were given as compensation to settle bloody conflict over karo-kari through a jirga decision near Thul in Jacobabad district. At least 30 women were sold during the first nine months of the year.
Zarina and Dildar Hussain who had left their homes and had married were murdered in Khairpur district. Two women of Shar tribe were kidnapped and gang-raped in revenge by a couple — Khan Sher and Gul Zareen Pathan. The study says Rehana was the first victim of the cruel custom of karo kari. She was killed by her husband near Khanpur in Shikarpur district. Two couples who remained in jail for two to five years under the Hudood laws were freed under the court orders. Khair Mohammad and Arbabzadi of Hala committed suicide after failing to get permission for marriage by the their relatives. Shahar Banu, her husband, who had married on their will over eight year back were murdered with their daughter and son in Garhi Khero.
The step-daughter of Sindh chief minister’s adviser was alleged to have been kidnapped from Karachi by a nephew of a minister. She was recovered from Mirokhan. Four youth arrested under allegation of her kidnapping were later released. Nazia Rani Malik was arrested under allegation of robbery on complaint of a military officer Shafqat. She was released on bail later in Hyderabad. District Police officer Sukkur Shabbir and others were fined Rs 2 million for killing two brothers in an encounter.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/10/2006
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