Karo-Kari?: 70-year-old accused of having affair with teenager

Hanifan has denied the allegations levelled by her husband.

GHOTKI:

The absurdity of some allegations knows no bounds.

While Karo-Kari charges are almost always reserved for victimising young men and women, a case in Behram Pitafi village, Sindh, provided a startling departure from convention.

Here, a 70-year-old woman has been declared ‘Kari’ for allegedly being involved in an affair with her 17-year-old relative. The elderly woman, who can barely even walk without support, has denied the allegations levelled by her husband. Hanifan’s husband, Bashir Ahmed, had claimed that she was involved with her niece’s son, Rashid.

She, however, approached the Pitafi tribe sardar and Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Ahmed Ali Pitafi to provide her protection and justice.

Hanifan said Ahmed was in debt and had asked Rashid’s parents to pay Rs400,000 or else he would kill their only son. After being declared as ‘Karo’, Rashid moved with his family to an undisclosed location.

Ali Pitafi assured Hanifan that justice would be provided to her.

Ahmed, along with his brother, Hazoor Bux, and cousin, Luqman, declared Hanifan as Kari on Tuesday, after which they tortured her and eventually threw her out of the house.

According to sources, Ahmed got married for the second time a few months ago, and asked Hanifan’s brothers to take her back. On top of it all, he also asked the brothers to repay him the Rs20,000 he spent on their wedding.

Following reports of the incident in local newspapers, police officials visited the village and found the reports to be true.

Hanifan registered a case against her husband and his two companions on Thursday. However, no arrests have been made so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2012.