A widespread protest was recently held in Nangar Jhetial village of Naseerabad, where Sindhiani Tehreek (Qoumi Awami Tehreek) strongly condemned the rising violence and injustice against women across the region. The rally was led by Shazia Ahmedani, Nusrat Khaskheli, and Fiza Mallah, highlighting issues such as the killing of girls on false accusations of “Karo-Kari”, forced marriages (“Vani”), the outdated Jirga system, harassment in educational institutions, abduction, and forced conversion. Participants chanted passionate slogans like “Stop killing girls” and “The Karo-Kari system is unacceptable, unacceptable,” demanding immediate action against the perpetrators.
Addressing the gathering, Shazia Ahmedani stated that innocent young women are being murdered under fabricated “Karo-Kari” accusations, while predatory individuals harass girls in educational institutions, tragically forcing some girls to commit suicide. She accused the government of strengthening the inhumane Jirga system, which provides protection to murderers, and claimed that the judiciary is not independent, leading to a severe failure in the provision of justice.
Ahmedani also highlighted recent disturbing incidents, mentioning the abduction of five-year-old Ujala Parveen Solangi from Mehar, following Priya Kumari and Fazila Sarki. She questioned why authorities, capable of recovering the Home Minister’s stolen car from Moro, apparently fail to rescue abducted innocent girls. Emphasizing that “Karo-Kari” is a barbaric custom contrary to Sindhi civilization, she stressed that the people of Sindh are humanitarian, tolerant, and respectful of women, lamenting the region’s historical legacy as the land of Shah Latif’s heroines being transformed into its current “slaughterhouse for women.”
She cited specific examples of brutal violence, including the savage murder of a mother and daughter in Larkana, the extremely brutal killing of Rabina Chandio in Tando Masti, and the suicide of Fehmida Leghari due to harassment in an educational institution in Mirpurkhas. Ahmedani demanded the immediate arrest and severe punishment of all individuals responsible for these atrocities to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Nusrat Khaskheli expressed regret over the widespread violence, stating that almost daily in Sindh, a young woman is abducted, murdered, or subjected to other forms of attacks. She emphasized the absence of effective law and justice in Sindh, leaving the public at the mercy of criminals, terrorists, and drug dealers. Khaskheli accused the police, Waderas, Sardars, and feudal lords of providing protection to these criminal elements, further accusing the rulers of compromising the region’s natural resources, lands, job opportunities, merit, and other assets without remorse.
She added that the ongoing killings of women are a blot on Sindhi society, which historically, from the Mohenjo-Daro civilization to the present day, has accorded significant respect to women. Khaskheli recalled that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai portrayed women as symbols of bravery, sacrifice, and love. She concluded by stressing that without ensuring equal rights for women, the region cannot effectively confront global challenges.
Fiza Mallah unequivocally declared “Karo-Kari” a barbaric and inhumane concept that has no connection with the true spirit of Sindh. She demanded the arrest and most severe punishment for all individuals involved in the killing of women, abductions, and forced conversions. Mallah compared global developments in education to the local reality where even love marriages are often prohibited. She labeled the obsolete tribal, feudal, and Jirga systems as enemies of progress and humanity.
Collectively, the speakers demanded severe punishments for the main perpetrators involved in the killing of women, specifically mentioning the incidents in Tando Masti and Larkana. They called for the arrest of those Waderas who approve “Karo-Kari” decisions and urged the strict enforcement of a complete ban on Jirgas. Furthermore, they demanded decisive action against those involved in abductions and forced conversions, along with an appeal for justice in the case of Fehmida Leghari.
The protest concluded with a unified statement advocating for respect, protection, and justice for women, emphasizing that these measures are crucial to safeguard future generations, including any potential Rabina, Nimrita, or other daughters, from oppression.