HYDERABAD, June 26: A judicial commission be appointed to hold inquiries into the incidents of karo-kari and terrorism and deterrent punishment be awarded to the perpetrators of the crimes.

This was demanded in a resolution adopted by a seminar on "Torture-free Sindh" organized by the Sindh National Council at a hotel here on Saturday to mark the international day in support of victims of torture.

Through another resolution, the seminar demanded legislation against Sardari system.

Mai Jendo of the infamous Tando Bahawal tragedy, in which her two sons and a son-in-law were gunned down by security forces, and whose two daughters, Hakimzadi and Zaibunnisa, later committed self-immolation in protest against delay in dispensation of justice, presided over the seminar.

A large number of other victims of torture as well as human rights activists attended the seminar.

The seminar adopted 15 resolutions, expressed support to the victims of torture throughout the world and proposed launching of an international movement against torture.

It noted that the governments of 150 countries were practising torture and demanded that they abandon the practice and sign the UNO's charter against torture.

The seminar demanded strict implementation of the court's judgment against the main accused of the Tando Bahawal killings, Ghulam Mohiuddin Pathan, and others.

It announced establishment of a cell at the office of the SNC for medical treatment and legal assistance to torture victims.

The seminar demanded that exemplary punishment should be awarded to those who tortured and raped Sassui and Hajran in Gadap and those who killed Abida and Tehmina Bhutto in a Shikarpur village.

It called upon the government to ensure financial and other help to the rain and flood affected people of Badin and Thatta districts.

Strongly opposing the Kalabagh and other dams as well as the Greater Thal canal, the seminar demanded that the Chashma-Jehlum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals should be closed forthwith.

The seminar demanded adequate compensation for the families of those who had died due to consumption of contaminated water.

It demanded an inquiry by the judges of the Sindh High Court into the wrong designing of Left Bank Outfall Drain and the occurrence of breaches in the drain network and compensation to the affected people.

The seminar pointed out that due to acute shortage of water for the last six years, Sindh had suffered tremendous losses, and demanded compensation to the province.

Those who spoke at the seminar included Senator Sanaullah Baloch, Abdul Wahid Areesar, Hussain Bux Thebo, Zia Awan, Dr Dodo Maheri, Jam Saqi and Javed Qazi.