HYDERABAD: A rights group calling itself ‘Civil Society for Truth, Peace and Justice’ organised rallies, demonstrations and street theatre in different parts of Sindh on Sunday to highlight injustice to women folk in the name of the hate custom of karo-kari (murder for honour).

In Hyderabad, participants of a protest rally converged on the local press club. It was joined in by activists of various civil society organsations, literati and media personnel.

The protest was held in the wake of the alleged honour killing of Khalida Chandio, Shumaila Chandio and the alleged suicide by Fahmida Laghari (a medical undergraduate) in very recent incidents.

Zafar Hakro, Altaf Koti, Niaz Vighio, Ghulam Sarwar Hingoro and others demanded justice for all such victims.

Awami Tehreek leader Noor Katyar, Sindh Sufi Forum President Dr Badar Channa, PML-F leader Rafiq Magsi and others spoke to the participants.

A street theatre featuring Aqeel Qureshi, Neha Sahar, Amir Pahore was also staged to condemn brutal custom.

The speakers said that killings under the karo-kari custom continued unabated across Sindh which was evident from the killing of Khalida Chandio in Tando Masti, Shumaila Chandio in Hala. They also listed the name of Fehmida Leghari who, they said, was harassed to the extent that she killed herself and, therefore, it should also be counted as murder.

They said that tribal jirgas were banned and the Sindh government had passed various legislations relating to harassment of women but they were not implemented. They maintained that anti-harassment committees were inactive in educational institutions.

In Larkana, under the aegis of the same rights group, journalists, writers and civil society activists held a march in Larkana from the local press club to Jinnah Bagh Chowk, where they held a demonstration.

Speaking to the participants, Zafar Abro, Razzaq Massan, Abdul Qadir Jagirani, Syed Javed Shah, Dr Sakeena Gaad (president of the Gomi Bai Ladies Club), Athar Soomro, Ashraf Kalhoro, Sattar Hulio, Dr Mazhar Mughal, Sheeba Mughal and others stated that women in Sindh were being murdered under the barbaric custom of karo-kari. The victims, they deplored, are buried without proper Islamic funeral rites and these incidents have been on an increase across the province.

They condemned the continuous harassment of female students within educational institutions, pointing out that several young women have been driven to take their own lives as a result, yet no effective action has been taken against the perpetrators. They said this criminal negligence deserves strongest condemnation.

The leaders demanded that FIRs in cases of honour killing be registered on behalf of the state, and that those found guilty must be handed harshest possible punishment.

They called for immediate steps to protect female students in educational institutions by taking decisive action against culprits.

In Jacobabad, the group organised a rally from the local press club to the DC Chowk.

Zain Sarki, Mohammad Hashim Brohi, Abdul Nabi Magsi, Abdul Ghani Khoso, Abdul Majeed Sarki (STP), Syed Ali Shah and others spoke to the participants.

They blamed the recent incidents of honour killing on the negligence of police, and deplored that the killers could not be arrested so far.

Yet another protest march was held in Dadu, where protesting writers, media personnel and activists of political parties, nationalist groups and social organisations gathered at New Chowk and marched up to the local press club. People from other walks of life joined in the march as well.

The participants were addressed by Wali Chandio, Prof Mohammad Irfan Kalhoro, Raja Rafique Panhwar, Mohammad Bakhsh Korai, Akbar Panhwar and Gulan Bhand.

They condemned increasing incidents of honour killing and remarked that Sindh had become a killing field for women. Due to a lack of will to enforce the relevant laws, such killings were continuing unabated, they said.

They lamented that government institutions for women protection had remained inactive. Besides the cases of Khalida Chandio, Shumaila Chandio and Fahmida Laghari, they highlighted the killing of Naheed Solangi in the Mitho Machhi area of Mehar taluka, and deplored that the actual killers were roaming free and innocent persons were locked up under pressure of influential people.

They demanded strict punishment to the killers and effective implementation of laws for women.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026