The Sindhi words ‘Karo Kari’ literally mean blackened, stained, disgraced, and are used to describe a man (Karo) and woman (Kari) involved in courtship, sexual relationship, elopement, and even free-will marriage or matrimony without the consent of parents. Such a daring act by a woman triggers enmity. The girl’s family solicits the help of the police and judiciary, claiming inducement, kidnap, or forcible marriage, or disputing her age. They also seek the intercession of the influential persons of the tribe of the man involved for the return of the girl so that they have the convenience to marry her off in a far-flung region or to kill her.

The Hindus of Sindh dispute the age of their girls who convert to Islam and contract marriage with Muslim men. A Sindhi spiritual and political leader, Mian Mithoo from Ghotki Tehsil, has rightly or wrongly earned notoriety for such marriages. Hindu girls often convert to Islam at the Dargah. Mian Mithoo has represented his area in the National Assembly as an MNA of the Pakistan People’s Party for a couple of terms when the party was led by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and he was not so controversial. After the frequency of such conversions of Hindu girls increased, the current PPP leaders kept Mian Mithoo at bay.

The tribal traditions, which unfortunately take precedence over religious edicts and civil and criminal laws, recognise any of the above social indiscretions as a disgraceful breach of the honour of the family of the woman, and an unforgivable crime. In the tribal way of life, this so-called crime renders her and her partner liable for elimination to vindicate the honour of the family. The man is equally punishable for........

© The Friday Times