KARACHI, Oct 5: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has been working seriously on the issue of karo-kari and a policy decision to eliminate this social evil will be announced soon.

This was stated by Sindh Excise Minister Rauf Siddiqui at a book launching ceremony on Saturday evening while representing the governor, who could not attend the function due to pressing engagements. The novel titled “Moonkhay saah khanan diyio” (let me breathe) has been written in Sindhi language on the subject of karo-kari by Ghulam Nabi Mughal.

The minister said that effective implementation of the existing laws was more important than formulating new laws or promulgating ordinances.

“There are laws, but we need good people to implement,” he remarked.

Mr Rauf noted that karo-kari symbolizes collective power of feudals and hence incidents of so-called honour killing and violence against women did not occur only in Sindh but also in other provinces.

He vowed that the government was very serious to see a feudal-free society, where justice was done to everyone irrespective of status and where all were accountable for their deeds.

The minister noted that the government machinery including police had been a party to strengthening the hands of feudalism.

He emphasized on raising this issue more forcefully by mobilising the masses against this social evil through discussions, pamphlets, seminars and workshops. He said that writing maximum books on karo-kari and gender discrimination would also help in creating awareness against the menace.

“The seminar or discussion should not be confined to five star hotels but should be held in remote areas,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Information Secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashidi described karo-kari as a dishonour rather than honour killing. She said it was a matter of two individuals not the tribes.

She said that Sindh was a land of peace, moral values, honour and dignity for a daughter and it was not understandable why a reverse situation was surfacing with intensity. To tackle the situation, she said, political will was needed.

Addressing the audience, Ali Ahmed Brohi said that incidents of karo-kari also happened in other areas of the country, but the label of this social evil had been pasted on Sindh alone.

He claimed that karo-kari had moved into Sindh from other areas. Tribal people mainly in Balochistan introduced karo-kari to harass their women who were asked to work in fields or graze cattle in jungle, he added.

Mr Brohi said that jirga system was introduced to strengthen the grip of feudalists on their area people. He called for an end to capital punishment like “phansi” (execution). He suggested that a punishment was meant to reform some one and not to finish one’s life.

He called upon the governor that being a non-feudal, he should play a historical role in containing karo-kari, gender and social inequalities and injustice.

The writer, Ghulam Nabi Mughal, recalled various events of gender discrimination and abuse of women, which forced him to write the book. He called upon other writers and intellectuals to join the war against social evils like that of karo-kari. He said that writers and intellectuals through their writings and interaction with people could help reforming society.

President Aurat Foundation Ms Anis Haroon called for a check on police working, especially in karo-kari incidents. She underlined the need for sensitizing legislators and law enforcers. She suggested setting up a hotline to report incidents like karo-kari to senior police and administration officers.

Ms Haroon said that the social evil was not restricted to rural areas but was also happening in large cities of the country. She cited some incidents of women abuse reported in Karachi.

Convener Indus Heritage Qamar Shahbaz called for introducing strict laws to check karo-kari. He maintained that the present laws dealing with karo-kari eased the situation for such murderer by labelling it as an action performed under sudden provocation of emotion. The person responsible for the act of homicide received less or normal punishment by the court of law, he added.

He emphasized for safeguarding the honour and rights of each other to promote a gentle, tolerant and civilized society.

An intellectual Syed Ali Mir Shah said that neither Islam nor any civilized society permit killing of somebody in the name of honour.

Prof Fahmida Hussain said that media had highlighted the issue in such a manner that it was helping men to protect themselves after committing murder of women.

She pointed out that there was a severe contradiction of approach on this issue, as people advocating its strict handling at public forums did not accord the required dignity to women in their very homes.

Prof Fahmida called for change of mindset of the people for a reformed society.

Hameed Sindhi also spoke on the occasion. —APP