SHIKARPUR, May 30: The former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Asma Jehangir, has said that women in the interior of Sindh are constantly in a state of fear because ofkillings on the pretext of Karo-kari.

She was speaking at a seminar on "Karo-kari and violation of human rights" organized by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Shikarpur chapter, on Saturday. Fazal Bhutto, the brother of Karo-kari victim, Tahmina Bhutto, presided over the seminar.

"A woman is killed in her own house in the name of honour and in the same house reconciliation for the matter is done" she said. The HRCP leader condemned the killings on the pretext of Karo-kari backed by the feudal gentry to maintain the status quo.

Asma expressed her resentment over the brutal murder of Abida Bhutto and Tahmina Bhutto by some Waderas in Jano Sharif village. Our Sukkur correspondents adds: The former chairperson of HRCP alleged that the system of this country had collapsed and no one could get justice.

She said that the poor people were left with no option but to seek the help of anti-social elements to hold Jirgas to get solve their problems. She demanded that a committee comprising women parliamentarians should be formed so that persons involved in honour killing could be punished according to the law.

Former law minister Iqbal Haider said that the murder of Abida and Tahmeena Bhutto was alarming and but silence of rulers was much more alarming. District Nazim Arif Mahar said that the district government was helpless and powerless to stop such incidents.

District Nazima Khairpur Nafisa Shah said that imposing ban over the Jirga in Sindh would have no impact as the justice is not available in this country. Later, Asma Jehangir, Iqbal Haider and others went to the houses of Tahmia and Abida Bhutto in Jano Sharif village and offered condolence with the bereaved families.