By By M. Zeeshan Azmat

Irshad Ali, 22, and Nusrat, 20, a newly-married couple became the latest victim of Karo Kari on Thursday, November 8, 2007. The obsolete tradition of rural areas, which is unfortunately still in practice today, has claimed so many lives in the recent past. However, in this case, the couple came to Karachi to save themselves. Unfortunately, however, they fell for the false promises made by their family members. The murderers are still at large and there is a possibility that they will never pay the price of their crime.

The couple, who belonged to Larkana district, were also closely related to each other. They got married a few months back in the court of Khairpur district. According to the local police, the Irshad and Nusrat were much older than what their relatives had said.

Arbab Bibi, 50, the mother of deceased Irshad, claimed that her only son (along with his bride) was murdered on the pretext of karo kari – a discriminatory practice, in which punishment for the ‘guilty’ parties is death for bringing disgrace to the family.

According to the Investigation Officer (IO) and Sub Inspector (SI) Aziz Chohan, the couple was gunned down in Charag Colony, Shah Lateef Town police limits. Irshad belonged to Shahzadpur while Nusrat was the resident of Larkana district, Chohan told The News. Furthermore, during their short stay in Sukkur, the couple also arranged a press conference to inform the media and people about the death threats they received from their families and heads of the tribe of their village. Arbab who lodged FIR number 413/2007 at Shah Latif Town Police Station, also nominated the brothers-in-law of her deceased son, Mansoor, Amjad and Muzaffar along with Liaquat and Imdad, the cousins of the deceased Nusrat in the crime. Bibi took the body of her beloved son and daughter-in-law to their native town for the funeral proceedings.

The IO said that the couple was living in Charag Colony, a locality of Gulistan Society when they migrated to Karachi but on that fateful day, the nominated came to their house and opened fire on the couple. The unfortunate couple expired on the spot. Moreover, the couple was also somehow in contact with the girl’s family and they had received a message from their relatives that they were ready to accept the marriage so they could come back home. According to Chohan, this message was sent by Nusrat’s brothers and it seemed that it was a trick to trace their location. “The accused are still missing and the family’s support is needed to arrest the culprits,” said Chohan.