SUKKUR, June 9 2006: Citizens and activists of different political, social, and religious parties took out a protest rally and staged a demonstration in front of the press club, Thull on May 8 against the holding of the Jirgas, in which innocent girls were given in marriage to the either parties.

The activists of PPPP, PPP Shaheed Bhutto, JSQM, STPP, Shahree Ittehad, and others led by Jawed Saghar, Abdul Sattar Memon and others marched throughout the town, raising slogans against those responsible for holding such Jirgas. The protesters then gathered at the press club, where they staged a demonstration.

Lashing out at the Jirgas, the leaders demanded of the Sindh government and Supreme Court of Pakistan to punish the persons responsible for holding Jirgas by taking suo moto action. They said it was inhuman to give the hand of innocent girls in marriage to resolve the dispute of Karo-Kari. They further said such verdicts were not only against the teachings of Islam, but also against the ethics.

The protesters demanded of the government to arrest those who presided over the Jirga in Thull to resolve the Karo-Kari dispute between two groups of Banglani tribe, while giving hands of five innocent girls in marriage to the either groups. They also demanded of PPPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto to take action against MNA Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and expel him from the party.

On the other hand, another such Jirga was held in village Garhi Hassan Sarki, near Thull, on late May 7 night, to resolve a Karo-Kari dispute between two groups of Noonari tribe, and the hand of another innocent girl was given in marriage to resolve the dispute. Sources claimed that the Jirga was held under the presidentship of Taluka Nazim Thull Ghulam Akbar Banglani, while dozens of elected Nazims, Naib Nazims, and influentials of the area attended.

The Jirga, after listening to both the parties, including the Bagh Ali group and Shahnawaz group, found that Bagh Ali group was guilty of Karo-Kari, and imposed a fine of Rs 120,000 and a girl in marriage to the Shahnawaz group. Bagh Ali group paid Rs 20,000 on the spot, while the remaining amount will be paid within two months. Besides this, they will give hand of a girl in marriage to the Shahnawaz group.
Source: The News
Date:6/9/2006