May 04, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1429

SUKKUR May 3: The tradition of karo-kari is still prevalent in Sindh with no let up in such incidences despite the effort of various NGOs, said Sindh Minister for Women Development Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel in Sukkur on Saturday, she said the government was taking steps for the development of women and to route out the black custom of karo kari and practice of torture against women.

She said the government took notice of women prisoners complaining non-production in courts and for providing them facilities according to Jail Manual.

She said our government did not believe in the politics of revenge but would probe thoroughly the funds given to NGOS during 11 years and warned that anyone found involved in corruption will be dealt according to law.

She said the government was conducting a survey of the NGOS and according to a report about two per cent were bogus but added it would be ascertained after the survey. She urged the government and non-government NGOS to work at grassroots level for the welfare of people.

Tauqeer Fatima said the government had chalked out a programme of open katchehries on district level to resolve problems of people, especially of women.

She said the first open katchehry will be held in Naudero and later such katchehries would be held in all districts of Sindh, including Sukkur,

Shikarpur, Shahdad Kot, Jacobabad, Khairpur, and Ghotki. She said special attention was being focused on the welfare of women prisoners and those residing in Dar-Ul-Aman.

Earlier, she paid a visit to Central Jail-II Sukkur to meet women prisoners and enquire about their health and welfare. She also took rounds of the Juvenile Ward of the jail.