‘100 women migrate to escape from being killed as Kari’ | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

‘100 women migrate to escape from being killed as Kari’

Jacobabad, April 05, 2005: More than 100 women had migrated from Jacobabad villages to save themselves from being murdered over Karo-kari, disclosed Dr A G Ansari, addressing on the second day of three-day workshop on ” Media and Domestic Violence”, here on Tuesday.

The workshop was arranged by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in collaboration with the European Union. Dr A G Ansari said that these women belonging to nearby villages feared that would be killed under the false allegation of Karo-kari.

Jacobabad Taluka Nazim Agha Ghazanfar Pathan in his address said that the increasing cases of violence over women, Karo-kari and domestic violence has earned a bad name for Sindh province.

He said that the situation would only be changed when the society was ready to change its behavior. He said that the women should be given equal rights.The three-day workshop had been inaugurated on Monday and former speaker of National Assembly, Illahi Bux Soomro was the key speaker.

In his address, he said that the government, feudal system and society were equally responsible for the menace of Karo-kari Soomro said that violence against women as well as Karo-kari was becoming the accepted norms of society. He said that only spread of education was not enough, but the society had to muster some courage to fight these evils.

He said that he himself was against the Karo-kari. He said that the British rulers through their strict laws had nearly ended this menace, but sadly now it was being revived in the society in Sindh. He said that if the society decided to rise against this issue there was no reason that this menace could not be ended for good.

Illahi Bux Soomro lauded the efforts of PPF to raise awareness against the violation of women rights, through seminars and workshops, adding that by giving chances to women to fight against these evils shoulder by shoulder with the civil society, a positive social change could be achieved.

He said that participation of women in the workshop in such a large number in the town like Jacobabad was a sign of social change. He said that gradual steps should be taken to promote the women in every walk of life.

Replying a question, he alleged that corruption had touched its peaks during the period of present government. He said that the difficulties faced by common man were constantly on the rise, while government officials were openly busy in corrupt practices. He alleged that the NAB had only made the life miserable for politicians.

Illahi Bux Soomro said that water problem of Jacobabad town had been created due to ill planning of engineers. He alleged that massive corruption was witnessed in the purchase of water pipes. He asked the media to play its due role for highlighting the problems of this town.

He said that by spreading the literacy it would help to eliminate Karo-kari and other forms of violence against women. He said that presently half the schools were actually closed but their teachers were getting their regular salaries. He said that landlords had turned the primary schools of village into their Ottaques (guesthouses).

He said that the literacy in womenfolk should be further promoted and an operation should be initiated with the help of army against ‘ghost schools’, as was done in Punjab province. He alleged that the intervention of the Center in Sindh affairs had been increased manifold.

Earlier, UC Nazim Thul Mehboob Ali Soomro in his address said that the tradition of Karo-kari had entered into Sindh along with immigrants that came here from various parts of the region.

He said that now this evil practice had become a blemish on the face of Sindh. He said that lack of education, week social civil society and influential landlords and tribal leaders were the reasons behind the increase in Karo-kari cases. Dr Sher Khan Jamali, Mussawar Shahid, Mumtaz Mangrio and Muhammad Jan Odhano and others also spoke on the occasion.
Source: Daily Times
Date:4/6/2005