KARACHI, June 02 2006: Even though the Sindh High Court banned jirga trials about two years ago (April 23, 2004), at least 41 jirgas were held on issues related to women in Sindh during the last five months. One of these jirgas declared a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl Karo and Kari, and five women were given in compensation to settle bloody conflicts over Karo Kari near Thul district, Jacobabad. This was stated June 01 in a report prepared by the Aurat Publication and Information Service Foundation.

Out of 164 persons murdered on the pretext of Karo Kari in different parts of the province, 105 were women. On May 14, a man killed his wife, Ayesha, in Karachi to avenge his honour after 25 years of marriage. Nazar cut her nose and breasts off and smashed her head in with a hammer. He lacerated the rest of her body with multiple knife wounds. Ayesha had nine children – six sons and three daughters.

At least 65 couples contracted free-will marriages and 55 women sought shelter after their lives were threatened. Sehar Bano and her daughter and son were killed and her injured husband was also murdered in Chandka hospital two days later. They had married by their own will but were declared Karo Kari eight years ago in Jacobabad district. Two women of the Shar tribe were allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped to avenge free-will marriages. PPI
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/2/2006