Karo-Kari Takes One More Life : Feudalism Responsible
By Ghazala Khan • Nov 24th, 2008 • Category: Misc, Worth A Second Look • 14 Comments •What is the most notorious thing of rural areas of Southern province of Sindh of Pakistan? Karo Kari. Karo kari is a compound word literally meaning “black male” and “black female,” metaphoric terms for adulterer and adulteress. Karo Kari applies to killing of both males and females in cultures that practice it. But more often than not, only women become the real victim of the Karo Kari and lost their lives in brutal fashion.
Every month dozens of women are killed in the name of Karo Kari. It is strange that even then the oppressed women and men of Sindh “commit adultery” after observing so many brutal deaths around them on the same charges. Just in the last 6 years, more than 6,000 women have been killed along with 800 men. The way these people are killed must be an “example” for others, yet such incidents happen and the “honoured” ones of the area have to do karo kari.
Karo Kari is not an honour killing. Honour killing is itself a heinous crime, but this archaic evil custom is proudly cherished in the rural areas of Sindh. In the name of honour, many scores are settled which mainly are related to the inheritance problem or feud-settling or just to get rid of wife to re-marry.
Just couple of days ago, Hanifa was brutally killed by her spouse, Waryam, four days ago in village Muhammad Ismail Mahar in the limits of the Yaro Lund Police Station of Ghotki. Her husband accused her of having illicit relationship with the husband of her sister. Before killing and burying her without funeral, Waryam put her in a ditch with threats that she would be buried alive if she did not confess and tortured her. Hanifa refused to bow in and Waryam killed her.
Initially, when Waryam accused her wife, she bolted to Rahim Yar Khan for shelter and only came back when the feudal of area Muhammad Ismail Mahar assured her that she won’t be killed. As she came back, she was taken hostage by her husband, tortured and killed and Muhammad Ismail Mahar didn’t do a thing.
This is what happens most of the time. Women or even men manage to flee after being accused as they know that they will be now killed without their innocence or anything and then the feudal of area give them their “word”, and as soon as they come back they meet their gruesome fate. Feudal should be wiped out brutally by the people to end this evil, and people can only do that if they have awareness and awareness only comes through education.
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Ghazala Khan
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Ghazala Khan, thank you for showing the courage by raising this issue of mudering our women, in the name of ‘honor’, and condemning it here. Courage is such a scarce commodetity among us the people of this unfortunate country; lack of our collective courage permits continuation of this and all such barabaric and criminal acts.
Whatever has been taking place in the name of honor is not and can not continue. This is absolute distortion of any morality and any sense of propriety or honor. It is barbaric, it is tyrannical and it does not have and must not have any protection by any religious or societal customs or tradition anywhere in the country (Ballochistan,Sindh, Punjab, NWFP without any exceptions). If this is customary and traditional (as Israrullah Zehri said such acts were part of a “centuries-old tradition” and he would “continue to defend them”. This shameful stand in the National Assembly of Pakistan, defending the recent murder of five Balochi women by burying them alive!). If he insists on his shameful stand then we have to tell him and his likes that ‘old-wrongs’ do not become right simply because ignorance tolerated such wrongs all this time. We must demand those who we have empowered and elected to represent us that all such ‘honor killings’ must be stopped now, immediately, use any power legislative as well as brute state force to stop this.
Ghazala Khan, it is time that all your readers here start expressing their anger and demand the members of the assemblies and senate of Pakistan to work jointly against all such barbaric acts. They also must jointly act to impeach Israrullah Zehri and Bijrani from the membership of the assemblies and force the government to fire these two from recent appointments of ministerial positions. Go to the Websites of the senate of Pakistan and the assemblies (national and provincial) and demand the chairman and the speakers to publish the email addresses of all the members. Tell them that how is it that we can access parlamentarians of India, UK, Germany, France, USA and and and, but not our own? Why, why must they be immuned to ‘public wrath’ ? They are there, because they wish to be there and work for the people of Pakistan. We as people demand accessibility to our elected representatives all the time, hence we demand their email addresses.
My Hat’s Off to you, dear.
We need more and more voices like this. This is truly a gruesome act of terrorism which is going on in the name of karo kari, and we have to stop this. Yes, the jageerdars are responsible, but they all are in assemblies.
Thanks for writing on social issue.
As far changing mind set is concerned, just remove feudalism from Sind and Baluchistan, you will find drastic change in the mentality of the people. Punjab was not a different case before 1970. But after 1970, feudalism started vanishing in central and upper Punjab and people of these areas got access to Schools, Media and Police Stations. Yes, we often abuse on Police Stations but this brings change. Mostly feudalists controls Police stations and access them for help. We can not say that every policeman is corrupt so some time these police stations resists.
Then, telephone and mobile is also not able to access these poor people of Sind and Balochistan specially. I have practical experience that Telecoms company is still facing severe resistance from Fedulaists. They are not letting them to get commercial plot license so they may proceed in their areas full fledged. Many engineers were threatened in early days of installations also.
So, Aftab Bhai, this problem can easily be controlled by just removing one but big hurdle in the growth of Pakistan and saving rights of the people. When parents, hubby, brothers of victim will know that she can access Police station or any human right group then they normally not reacts so severely.
Question arises who is gona change this system… Our leadership…who also belongs to same group. Just see example of India… one lady bringed change in constitution that one man can not keep more than 25 Acres of land and their all Raja, majaraja became a common citizen in one day. I was watching program on Discovery about one Raja of Madaras. he was showing that how he is running his forefathers home as Hotel and Museum. He not criticised government step but openly told that when we can not own big land then I opened my home as hotel and Museum for earning. But really I was impressed.
Regards,
Saleem Bhai, in my view this situation persists due to general apathy among the masses in general and those in power in particular. Unfortunately, in our society, we tend to treat this as family matters or at least local to some far off areas; whereas, this is a human rights issues and women in Pakistan are generally treated as ‘lesser’ citizens. To curb such criminalities an awareness has to be induced privately as well as through public media etc. If some (ideally all!) the readers here would get active and start wrting to the members of parliament and other political leaders and to the jokers like Aitzaz and his team of political lawyers and judges. We must contact all the Lady members of both the houses of our parliament as well as provincial assemblies, write to Asma Jehangir, Syed Iqbal Haider , Burni of the BUrni Trust, I am certain that some thing will come out of this effort. Write letters to the editors of DAWN, The News, Pakistan Times, Frontier Post etc. WRITE, WRITE. WRITE, show them your disgust your anger and your refusal to take this anymore. It must work.
Welldone Aftab Bhai. This is what we need. Our Media can play also role, if it will take time from Politics. Bhai, I would suggest that some one should come up with one site that will have all contact and email addresses of all authorities and influential personalities. Where people can easily send mails and sms.
SMS is the most easiest and fast mode of delivering report on any matter but again it is not used in Pakistan as big mode of communication. Just see NDTV, they on one side do Live programs on Basic issues and literally bringing all religions at one platform for harmony in the country and mean while the presenter gives number for SMS so they can reach a unanimous conclusion after 1 hour discussion.
Our media tries to debate on topics (mostly political) but conclusion is nothing.
We have to learn from our neighbours. Government should lift ban from telecasting NDTV 24X7 like Televisions because once people will see it then they will be able to judge that what our Media is playing with us. Literally I love that TV due to its mostly Live Coverage and touching each and every issue of India.
ALL THE READERS HERE MUST, PLEASE:
Go to the Websites of the senate of Pakistan and the assemblies (national and provincial) and demand the chairman and the speakers to publish the email addresses of all the members. Tell them that how is it that we can access parlamentarians of India, UK, Germany, France, USA and and and, but not our own? Why, why must they be immuned to ‘public wrath’ ? They are there, because they wish to be there and work for the people of Pakistan. We as people demand accessibility to our elected representatives all the time, hence we demand their email addresses.
TELL THE SPEAKERS (NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES) AND THE CHAIMAN OF OUR SENATE THAT WE WISH TO REGISTER OUR ANGER AND PROTEST ON APPOINTMENTMENT OF SUCH PUBLIC ENEMIES LIKE BIJRANI AND ISRAR ULLAH ZEHRI. REGISTER YOUR DEMAND FOR THEIR REMOVAL FROM THE MINISTERIAL POSITIONS.
# 3 Sumbal Alvi Says: November 24th, 2008 “Yes, the jageerdars are responsible, but they all are in assemblies.”
YES, THEY ARE IN ASSEMBLIES ! HOW DID THEY GET THERE? WE SENT THEM THERE TO DO WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO - RIGHT? NOW IF THEY FAIL US - WHY CAN’T WE FIRE THEM ? IT IS HIGH TIME THAT WE MADE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WORK FOR US AND THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE THEM FROM ASSEMBLIES !!!!!!!!!!
GO TO # 7 above
# 3 Sumbal Alvi Says: November 24th, 2008 “Yes, the jageerdars are responsible, but they all are in assemblies.”
HOW DID THEY GET THERE? WE SENT THEM THERE TO DO WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO - RIGHT? NOW IF THEY FAIL US - WHY CAN’T WE FIRE THEM ? IT IS HIGH TIME THAT WE MADE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WORK FOR US AND THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE THEM FROM ASSEMBLIES !!!!!!!!!!
GO TO # 7 above
@ Aftab: As usual, very insightful and very realistic. I also agree with the demand that the email addresses of our “elected” members must be published. Not only emails, but also phone numbers and addresses and the hassle-free way through which one can ask them questions.
@Saleem: Media must not forget politics. Politics is not something bad. It’s a noble thing, which has steered the nations and have changed the world and it’s the driving force which will drive the world ahead. Great cannot be achieved without politics in the world.
The writer and the commentators deserve accolade for exposing a heinous crime and expression of disliking on an issue which is scar on face of our society.
Feudalism is name of a particular mindset. It does not necessarily mean big land lord. In Northern and Central Punjab, huge land holdings are non-existent but still the mentality of subjugating the masses got inherited in influential business class which are mostly tax-evaders.
The factors responsible for bringing social change are already in action. Nobody can stop those. Dissemination of knowledge is one of the most important factor of social change. Media is certainly more active now against such crimes like karo kari or wanni or honour-killings.
I am hopeful of more concrete outcome of the revolution in information technology. It is only matter of time. All of us writing here are forwarding the same cuase; i.e dissemination of knowledge. It will reach in remotest areas of the country sooner or later.
Naeem Bhai: There’s no two opinion on ‘feudalism’ being a mind set as well as there’s complete agreement on this also that this menace, this parasite has to be rid of. However, I do, kind of, disagree with you that these killings of our women folks will somehow stop. I fail to see any inclination on the part of our so called elected representatives to a thing about it. In my view, the public outrage must be expressed in an organized and concerted manner. An article here and commentary there just does not seem to have any effect; the people in very large numbers, across the country, must write to the these politicians; they must write Op-ed. in various news papers, letters to the editors, to the president, the prime minister and anybody who appears to be living off our resources in the name of being our leaders etc.
Ghazala :Regarding the comment you left on my blog ,please do educate us if any terrorists of Bajrang Dal,RSS etc have ever crossed borders to and massacre people in a cowardly manner.MY post was not even a blame game,which you made it out to be.Why are you getting so defensive about the whole issue? Infact I donot tolerate the extremism of the Hindu Fundamentalists, and neither will I tolerate that of the Islamists.I pity you ,that you have to live in such a environment, that any rational logical view will be dealt with by bullets..
This is shamless data becuase all Pakistan knows well that Karo-Kari not culture of Sindh but this belongs from Baloch tribe or Pushtoon as well.
If your defineing facts and figure then why not give us fully data here becuse around all pakistan 70/= oercent Karo Kari case happning in Punjan and 30 will be noted around all Pakistan other places this is also define and doing way of discrimination of Sindh here.
Peace,