KARACHI – The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday while directing the government to take special measures for preventing Karo-Kari (honour-killings) said that the murder of woman in the name of honour is a black spot or the fair name of society.

Karo-Kari is more a social is. sue than legal one. Unless aware, ness is created among the masses there would be no end of this menace. Special measures are needed against Karo-Kari in rural areas.

A division bench comprising justice Zabid Qurban Alvi and justice Zia Pervez made these observations while disposing of a constitutional petition filed by ex-secretary of Pakistan Worn en’s Lawyers Association (PWLA) Afroz Ishan.

As the SHC started hearing of the petition, the Additional Advocate General Sindh Sarwa Khan, pointed out that Sindh Government is aware of the severity of this issue as legislation against honour-killings is under Consideration. He added that suggestions have been sent for-ward to the federal government, as legislation is prerogative of National Assembly, where Muttaheda Majlis-i-Amal is pro-testing against it. He alleged that the MMA was stumbling block against such legislation. Advocate Sarwar Khan also pointed out that this issue is under consideration in a current session of Sindh Assembly. He assured the court that no law would be made against women.

Afroz while making the federal government the Speakers of National Assembly and Sindh Assembly parties in her petition filed on March 25, has said that killing of women in the name of honour was tantamount to extra-judicial killings and violation of human rights.

She claimed that several women and men are being killed in interior Sindh. The petition pointed out that Sindh government had made draft for preventing honour-killings but the same was not produced before the assembly after considerable lapse. She urged the SHC to direct federal as well as provincial government to make special efforts for elimination of honour-killings

Source: Dawn

Date:11/15/2003