Declared Kari: Girl ‘sentenced’ to death by panchayat

Victim escaped the house after hearing the sentence given by the panchayat and took refuge at her uncle’s place

MULTAN: A 19-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a relative, has been declared Kaari on panchayat orders in District Rajanpur.

According to Fazilpur Police, the girl has been sentenced either to be killed or to be sold on the charges of adultery.

Station House Officer (SHO) Fazilpur Police Station Qaisar Husnain Shah told The Express Tribune that Shumaila, a resident of Fazilpur, approached the police after she was given sentence by the panchayat.



Shumaila’s report stated that she was sleeping with her parents at home on Friday night when Khaleel Ahmad entered her house and raped her forcibly at gunpoint. “He was armed and I could not raise my voice,” said in her complaint.

The next day when the whole family came to know about the incident, the relatives decided to approach the family court.



Four people including Muhammad Shafee, father of Khaleel Ahmad, forced the panchayat to declare the girl as Kaari.

On the other hand, victim’s father was forced to accept the decision of the panchayat. The girl escaped the house after hearing the sentence given by the panchayat and took refuge at her uncle’s place.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2017.