HYDERABAD, Oct 2: Speakers at a workshop on karo-kari have called for implementation of existing laws to try cases of karo-kari and creating awareness among people so that the tribal custom could be eliminated from the society.
The workshop was organized by Sindh Ombudsman Yusuf Jamal at a local hotel.
Observing that karo-kari was not Sindh-specific, the provincial ombudsman said that apart from legislation, interaction at all levels was also necessary because to eliminate this brutal custom.
Mr Jamal said that international human rights organizations were also monitoring this issue, adding that awareness among general public could not be ensured in one day and a continued process was necessary for rooting out the custom.
Attributing cases of karo-kari to political, economic and social issues, the ombudsman said these factors should also be exposed. He said that even Saarc countries were making laws to curb such cases.
Describing it as a blot on the face of the society, Prof Dr Mumtaz Bhutto said that karo-kari was originated in Balochistan and that was why such cases were mostly reported in upper Sindh.
Dr Bhutto held NGOs responsible for making a negative propaganda in this respect. She said the Holy Quran had ensured equal rights to women more than 1400 years ago but under existing conditions they were not given their due rights.
She said if the teachings of Holy Quran were to be followed the women's rights could be safeguarded.
Agha Shahabuddin called for formation of a task force to ensure a continued dialogue process on the issue between different segments of the society.
HRCP vice-chairperson for Sindh, Ali Hassan, suggested that a committee comprising women MPAs should be formed to study cases of karo-kari and submit a report for discussion.
Other speakers were of the view that the government had failed to enforce its writ in the tribal culture, and said that no new laws were needed rather existing laws should be implemented.
They said that since 1947 the country had been governed by feudal lords and that was why this custom could not be eradicated.
Other speakers included Khursheed Anwar advocate, Inayat Baloch, Amar Sindhu, Prof Sehar Imdad, Ibrahim Joyo and Naz Sehto.
NOTICES ISSUED: DPO (operations) A. D. Khawaja on Friday issued notices to 14 activists of banned militant organizations to appear before him in person on October 4 with one surety of Rs500,000 and two personal sureties, a police source said.
The sureties are being required from activists of banned outfits under the directive of the Sindh home department which is acting on the orders of the National Crisis Management Cell of the federal interior ministry.
Thirty-one such activists belong to Hyderabad district and 50 others to other parts of Sindh, a police source said, adding that 14 activists belong to Karachi followed by nine each of Badin, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Sanghar districts. In Sukkur region there are only 15 activists.
However, the source said, such notices have been issued only in Hyderabad district so far.
The activists have been asked not to visit schools, colleges and parks where people below 21 years of age are present, unless they obtain prior permission from the area SHO.
Two activists, Faisal Nadeem and Haji Younus, have challenged the issuing of notice by the DPO through a petition in the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench.