Sindh sees 174 honour killings in six months
KARACHI, July 16: More than four people, including three men, were killed daily on an average in Sindh while a woman lost her life every second day on the pretext of honour killings during the first half of this year, says a research report compiled by the Aurat Foundatin, an NGO.
The report shows that at least 753 people, including 207 women, were killed during the last six months in Sindh. The figure includes 110 women and 64 men killed on the pretext of karo-kari.
A decline in the number of honour killings was recorded this year as in the corresponding period of last year, 124 women declared kari and 67 men declared karo were killed in Sindh. Some 52 women declared kari were injured this year as compared to 102 in the corresponding period of last year.
A total of 256 women were killed on different pretexts in the first half of last year.
Rape cases
According to the data collected from the Citizens Action Committees for women’s rights and media sources, two minor girls were raped and murdered, 23 women were raped, 29 were gang-raped and attempts were made on 23 others.
At least 68 women committed suicide while 73 others attempted to commit suicide owing to increasing unemployment, forced and underage marriages, domestic problems, violence, poverty and conflicts.
Parallel system of judiciary
The report says illegal Jirgas continued to be held in various parts of Sindh despite a ban imposed on this parallel system of the judiciary by the Sukkur Bench of the Sindh High Court.
At least 58 Jirgas were held on women-related issues. One woman was declared Garhi (literary meaning red: used for symbolizing an innocent person) in a Jirga decision.
Freewill marriages
The Sindh High CourtÂ’s Sukkur Bench imposed a fine of Rs300,000 on two police officials for registering a case of Zina/ Hudood Ordinance even after the promulgation of the Women Protection Act against a couple who married of their own accord and had moved the court for shelter. Sanam (Nausheroferoze) had sought shelter after freewill marriage. The SHC Sukkur Bench called the district Nazim and asked him to protect the couple.
At least 18 women were sold in the name of marriages. Three couples were arrested who left homes for free will marriages. Some 76 couples eloped and married through courts while 84 women sought shelter owing to threats to their lives.
Arrested, tortured
Police arrested 84 women on different charges. Fifteen women were physically tortured by the police. The Ghotki police arrested a man and his wife after the couple failed to produce the marriage certificate. Both were beaten up by the police and were dragged to a police station. At least 77 women were kidnapped while 18 others went missing.
Close relatives
This year, more than 13 women were murdered by their brothers-in-law in Kashmore, Shikarpur, Larkana, Khanpur, Tangwani and Obaro towns. A bride was brutally tortured by groom Shabbir on their wedding night declaring her kari in Shahdadkot district. Another bride Sartaj Khatoon was killed by her groom Tariq on their wedding night on pretext of karo-kari in Kamber while the medical report revealed that she was a virgin.
The study said the accused were mostly male members of the victim’s family like husband, brother-in-law, father, brother, cousin and in rare cases mothers-in-law were directly or indirectly involved in the murders.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/17/2007
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