KARACHI, Feb 1: A rights group providing legal aid to vulnerable segments of society expressed serious concern over the increase in violence against women and trafficking cases in Karachi and demanded that the governor of Sindh protect a woman from being trafficked abroad.

According to a press statement issued by Madadgaar Helpline, its chief Zia Awan received a complaint in writing from a 20-year-old woman, Amina, resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, calling for protection from her father who allegedly wanted to sell her abroad.

In her letter, she accused her father Aula Mian of torturing her mother till the latter died. “My mother always protected me from debauchery till she was alive otherwise my father would have sold me to an influential wadera of the interior of Sindh,” she said.

The statement quoted her as alleging that Aula Mian’s persistent torture killed her mother after which her father started contacting some Bengali agents to get a good bargain by selling her out to some foreigner.

“My father partnering with Bengali agents has sold a number of girls to influential feudal lords of the interior of Sindh. Out of fear but with personal consent and permission from the court, I wed Mohammad Ilyas on November 8, 2006,” she said.

She said soon after the marriage her father had started torturing the couple to dissolve their marriage. “He is threatening me if I do not divorce my husband, they would implicate us in false cases in cahoots with the police.”

The statement said Amina’s husband had recently been kidnapped by some gangsters who threatened him to divorce Amina or face the consequences. The area police was informed about the incident to no avail.

Mr Awan also appealed to the city police chief and the TPO of Bin Qasim Town to provide protection to the couple and take action against those threatening them.