Sindh gathers at grave of 'honour killing' victim

The temporary resting place of a young woman, whose murder in an alleged honour killing and subsequent undignified burial remained shrouded in secrecy for almost a week in a remote rural town of Khairpur district, on Sunday saw people from across the province visiting it to express solidari-ty and support. A symbolic funeral prayer was also offered, led by Maulana Ayaz Ahmed Kammi, while standing next to the ajrak-clad grave of Rubina Chandio alias Khalida in Batto Chandio village in Tando Masti, a rural town.

On a hot summer day, with temperatures touching 40 degrees Celsius, poets, writers, teachers, jour-nalists and civil society activists, along with local people, gathered in large numbers at her grave in an activity organised by activist Shahnaz Shaikh, who set up a condolence camp at the site. The event aimed to convey a loud and clear message that the people of Sindh do not consider women killed for honour as guilty; rather, those involved in such killings are regarded as reprehensible and should be punished under the law.

Men and women carrying placards and banners stood at the grave condemning traditions that allow violence against women, especially killings in the name of honour. The grave was later completely cov-ered with rose petals as women condoled with Khalida's mother and men with her father.

"Bhitai [Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai] has described Sindh's women as Soormis [heroines] in his poetry," said Shaikh. "But is it the same Sindh today?"

Sindh University's Prof Amar Sindhu, who was among the Women Action Forum (WAF) caravan that arrived from Hyderabad, said, "We have come here to express solidarity with you and to fight for jus-tice for Khalida." Former senator Krishna Kumari and ex-MPA Farheen Mughal also accompanied the WAF Hyderabad delegation during the visit.

Separately, SSP Khairpur Amir Saud Magsi met Khalida's family and assured them of the early exhuma-tion of her body for medico-legal formalities and a dignified burial. Khairpur police detained 18 sus-pects on April 15 after a video clip showing the brutal killing of Khalida at the hands of her relatives sur-faced on social media about a week after her murder. The police later registered an FIR naming five individuals.