Karo Kari in Larkana

karo-kari-mirjat.jpgIn Pakistan Karo Kari, or Honor Killing is still practiced, and although illegal it sometimes goes unpunished. Various scholars have declared it “un-Islamic”, however others, especially tribal elders, still consider it mandatory when a family’s honor is besmirched.

 The story below is a sad one, a poor family whose son has somehow created dishonor for someone [who and how has never been clear in any of the reports on this, it could be that he dishonored someone’s daughter, or that he honor-killed someone’s relative – it’s unclear.] now has been ordered to give up their young daughters because they do not have the money for the fine. So one woman was dishonored or killed, now two girl children will also suffer.

Update: Gateway Pundit now carrying story as well.

 From Daily Times:

The family of two small girls has been under threat for the past ten days after they refused to give up their daughters when a ‘jirga’ decided that three-year-old Tasleem and four-year-old Farzana be given as a penalty.

Both girls are of the Mirjat caste. Aijaz Mirjat, their uncle, said that the girls are from village Hamal of Taluka Warah in district Kambar-Shahdad Kot.

Tasleem is the daughter of Aijaz’s brother, Niaz, and Farzana is the daughter of Ali Asghar Mirjat. He said that a penalty was issued after karo kari was blamed on his brother, Ibrahim Mirjat.

He said that despite jirgas being illegal, one was held by an influential cast member, Wadero Athar Mirjat, during which he announced that the two minors should be given to the complainant as a penalty.

“When we refused to accept this inhumane judgment they lodged an FIR against us in the Hamal police station on charges of stealing wheat,” said Aijaz. “There is no way for us to leave the area immediately. We have, however, migrated from Taluka Warah to the village of Miandad Chandio in district Dadu.”

They are still being threatened to either accept the decision or face the consequences, added Aijaz. “But how can we hand over our innocent girls,” he asked.

More from an earlier story at Dawn.