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

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 earned notoriety for such marriages. Hindu girls often convert to Islam at his Dargah. Mian Mithoo represented the Pakistan People’s Party in the National Assembly for a couple of terms when the party was led by Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto. After the frequency of such conversions of Hindu girls increased, the current PPP leaders kept Mian Mithoo at bay.

The tribal traditions, which always take precedence over religious edicts and civil and criminal laws within the tribe, treat any of the above social indiscretions as a disgraceful breach of the honour of the woman’s family, and an unforgivable crime. This social indiscretion renders her and her partner liable to murder. The man is killed for his audacious indulgence in tarnishing the honour of the family of his........

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