Karo-Kari System Iin Pakistan

Category: Articles/Opinion
Written by: peregrine ...... (on October 28, 2008 - 06:15 PM)

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Tribal system in Pakistan may have some good aspects in it but if we carefully observe this sytem we could see easily,  the  fatal impacts of this system.  In Tribal system each and every one has to obey the orders issued by the "Jarga" or the "Panchayat". This Panchayat or Jarga is usually lead by the so called "respected and nobel" people of the village. These leaading people are usually the rich people of the village and the decision on any issue ,between two parties,  is mostly influenced by the status of each party. Even though these Jargas lack in ethical values and are devoid of basic human rights but in case of so called "ghairat" , they do not compromise on it.

One of the worst tradition of this tribal system has now been exposed to the world recently. This is Termed "Karo-Kari". Regardless of the fact that this issue has been much dicussed at all levels and forums yet the rate, of people becomeing victom of this cruel tradition, is increasing.

Karo kari is a compound word literally meaning "black male" and "black female," metaphoric terms for adulterer and adulteress. Being so labelled leads more often than not to the murder of both man and woman allegedly guilty of having an illicit affair. This is especially true in the rural areas of the southern province of Sindh. In other parts of the country, women are more likely to be accused of sexual improprieties and murdered in order to wash the sullied family honour.

Another sad aspect of this issue is that influencial and rich people, in these tribes, get away withall this but this punishment is only imposed on poor families. Interestingly the head of the family wants her daughter, involved in any illicit relationship" to be punished by Karo-Kari. Recenlty in Khairpur another girl, accused of being Karo-Kari, was thrown in fron of Dogs brutally toring her apart.

Official data recently published by the Pakistani Senate show that more than 4,000 people died in the last 6 years as result of karo-kari. Of the victims almost 2,800 were women and just over 1,300 were men. Thus twice as many women as men lose their lives to this most barbaric social custom.

Of the 2,774 murdered women, 1,578 were killed in Punjab, 751 in Sindh, 260 in NWFP and 185 in Baluchistan. Of the 1,327 murdered men, 675 were killed in Punjab, 348 in Sindh, 188 in NWFP and 116 in Baluchistan.

It is the time now to give Women their rights and most importantly the human rights must not be invaded by anyone. This is waht is happening in our remote and rural areas. these barbaric customs must be stopped as soon as possible and the tribal system needs to be reviwed.

Statistics by courtasy of asianews

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