DAHARKI, Sindh: In Fattu Shah, a small village in Ghotki district on the border of the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Punjab, a cemetery is reserved for women. But not just any women, the graveyard’s caretaker and local villagers say, but ‘condemned women,’ or karis, killed over perceived damage to “honor.”
Hundreds of women are murdered each year in Pakistan, mostly by family members, in so-called ‘honor killings’ that punish women for eloping, fraternizing with men or other infractions considered in defiance of conservative values that govern women’s modesty in the South Asian nation.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 430 cases of honor killing were reported in 2020, involving 148 male and 363 female victims. Of these cases, 215 victims, 136 of them girls and women, belonged to the southern Sindh province.
Though laws around the country forbid honor killings, rights experts say enforcement of justice is often lax in such cases, with proceedings at times being drawn out while accused killers are freed on bail and cases fade away.
Kariyon ka Qabristan, or cemetery for condemned women, as the graveyard is called, is a testament to the continuing practice.
At least half a dozen villagers interviewed by Arab News said they knew of women who had been killed in the name of honor and buried in the graveyard in Fattu Shah.
Ali Nawaz, the 67-year-old caretaker of the four-decade-old cemetery, said there were at least 400 graves there, all of whom belonged to women killed in the name of honor.
“Burials have decreased over the last few years, but women are still being killed in the name of honor,” he told Arab News.
Among the ‘condemned women’ is Naseeran Chanesar, the aunt of 21-year-old shepherd Ilah Bux, who said he was ten when his mother’s sister ‘disappeared’ from her village home in 2013.
For days, Bux kept asking his mother where Chanesar was, he told Arab News: “It was on the third day that a villager whispered in my ears that she had been buried in Kariyon ka Qabristan.”
Bux said he did not know which grave in the cemetery was his aunt’s: “The only person I could ask is my mother, but she also doesn’t know the exact grave.”
Nawaz the caretaker said no visitors came to the graveyard even on religious holidays such as the Eid festivals, or in the holy month of Ramadan, when many Muslims visit the graves of their family members and friends.
“Many graves have decayed over the years and are no longer visible,” he said, “and if someone even tries to come here, they cannot identify their loved ones.”
Another lost grave is of Gul Bano who was killed by her elder brother in 2014, Bano’s cousin Murad Mehar said.
“On every Shab-e-Barat [major event in the Islamic calendar] when people go to graveyards to offer fateha [prayers] at the graves of their loved ones, we see Bano’s mother weeping in a corner of her house, remembering the daughter she can’t visit,” Mehar told Arab News.
While nearly all villagers spoke on condition of anonymity, Zarka Shar, an activist from Beruth, another village in Ghotki, said a graveyard had been reserved for victims of honor killings “because even after death, these ‘karis’ are not considered worthy to be buried in normal graveyards.”
“No rituals are performed for those killed and they are buried without being bathed,” she added. “This graveyard was built to spread fear.”
Shar said though the number of honor killings and subsequent burials in the graveyard had declined after the media had shone a spotlight on the practice in recent years, “there is still fear.”
“Even now if someone is buried, no one reveals it,” Shar said. “The administration ... does not take any action on this lawlessness. People are afraid to talk. The women are helpless. If one is a victim, others are silent mourners.”
But Usman Abdullah, the deputy commissioner of Gotkhi, denied that the graveyard in question was reserved for karis.
Murtaza Wahab, a spokesperson for the Sindh government, acknowledged that incidents of honor killing occurred in the province but said he was not aware of a graveyard specifically for karis.
“I will summon a report from the local administration,” he added.
But Mehnaz Rehman, executive director at Aurat foundation, told Arab News the graveyard existed and she had visited it several years ago as part of a fact-finding mission.
“There are painful stories,” she said. “We saw the grave of a mother who we were told was killed and buried there because she had dared to challenge customs.”
In southern Pakistan, a cemetery for ‘condemned’ women killed in the name of honor
https://arab.news/mc9ma
In southern Pakistan, a cemetery for ‘condemned’ women killed in the name of honor
- 'Kariyon ka Qabristan' has around 400 graves, all belong to women killed in so called ‘honor killings’, graveyard caretaker says
- Deputy commissioner Gotkhi denies graveyard reserved for ‘condemned women,’ government to seek explanation from local administration
Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza
- Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan urges the world to put end to Israeli violations of international law
- Israel deliberately killed 15 Palestinian emergency workers last month in a shooting incident captured on video
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan urged the international community on Thursday to take notice of Israel’s latest “barbarity” in the Gaza Strip while referring to the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in a shooting incident captured on video.
The emergency workers were shot dead on March 23 and buried in shallow graves. Initially, the Israeli military claimed it opened fire after unmarked vehicles approached its soldiers in the dark, but later changed the statement after video footage emerged showing clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with their lights on coming under fire.
The war in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has continued despite repeated international appeals for a ceasefire. The Palestinian death toll has reportedly surpassed 50,000, with women and children making up a significant portion of the casualties.
“Pakistan in the strongest possible terms condemns the continued aggression and atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces in occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly media briefing.
“In the latest incidents of brutality, Israel has mercilessly killed 15 Palestinian emergency and civil defense workers,” he continued. “Pakistan demand that the international community should take immediate notice of this barbarity and stop this blatant violation of international law and charter of the United Nations.”
Khan highlighted his country’s condemnation of the continued aggression by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has consistently supported the Palestinian demand for an independent state based on pre-1967 borders.
It has repeatedly raised concerns over the Gaza conflict at various global forums, including the UN Security Council, and has called for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel’s actions.
World Bank investment arm commits $300 million loan to Pakistan’s Reko Diq mining project
- Located in Balochistan, Reko Diq is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves
- IFC says its involvement will mitigate project risks and support sustainable mining practices in Pakistan
KARACHI: The World Bank’s private investment arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will extend $300 million in debt financing for Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, according to an IFC project disclosure published on Wednesday.
Reko Diq, located in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves. Once operational, it is expected to significantly boost Pakistan’s exports, generate substantial tax and royalty revenues and contribute to economic growth and job creation.
IFC said its involvement will mitigate project risks in the restive Balochistan region and support sustainable mining practices.
“The estimated total Project cost is $6.6bn, and it will be financed using a combination of debt and equity,” IFC announced while sharing a summary of its investment.
“IFC’s proposed investment consists of an A-loan of up to $300 million,” it added. “Other parallel lenders will provide the remaining debt financing.”
An A-loan is a direct loan provided by the IFC from its own funds, typically with long-term repayments. It is a form of debt financing, requiring the borrower to repay the loan with interest, unlike equity financing where the investor takes ownership stakes in the project.
The Reko Diq project is being supported by IFC’s technical and financial expertise. The institution will act as Environmental and Social (E&S) coordinator, ensuring adherence to its performance standards and helping implement best practices in sustainability.
IFC will also provide advisory support on mining operations, transport infrastructure and risk mitigation.
According to the investment summary document, the project will strengthen domestic supply chains and contribute to community development in Balochistan.
It is also expected to deepen domestic market integration by linking Balochistan to national and global markets and encouraging further investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The IFC has actively engaged with Pakistan recently through several high-level visits and financial commitments. Earlier this year, its Managing Director Makhtar Diop visited the country in February and met with public and private sector stakeholders to expand IFC’s investment footprint and reaffirm its commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth.
Subsequently, the IFC announced plans to significantly increase its investment in Pakistan, with a target of up to $2 billion annually over the next decade, potentially amounting to $20 billion.
The initiative aligns with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework, which envisions a combined investment of around $40 billion in Pakistan over ten years.
With input from Reuters
Pakistan PM departs for Belarus on two-day visit to boost bilateral cooperation
- The two sides plan to sign several agreements during Sharif’s two-day visit, says Pakistan’s foreign office
- Visit can also help Pakistan diversify trade partnerships since Belarus can be a gateway to Eurasian markets
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for a two-day visit to the Eastern European country of Belarus on Thursday, his office said, as the two sides prepare to sign several agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and has maintained diplomatic relations with it since 1994.
However, bilateral trade has remained modest, with annual volumes ranging between $50 and $65 million, according to the Belarusian embassy in Islamabad.
Belarus mainly exports tractors, trucks, potash fertilizers, synthetic yarns and tires to Pakistan, while Pakistani exports include rice, textiles, leather goods and surgical instruments.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a two-day official visit to Belarus,” the PM Office said in a statement. “At the invitation of His Excellency President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to Belarus from April 10 to 11, 2025.”
According to another statement released by the foreign office earlier today, Sharif will hold talks with Lukashenko to review progress in areas of mutual interest.
“The two sides are expected to sign several agreements to further strengthen cooperation,” it added.
The prime minister’s visit follows a series of bilateral engagements in recent months. The Belarusian president visited Pakistan last November for his third official trip to the country, during which both sides signed a “Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation for 2025-2027” to expand economic ties and institutional linkages.
Fourteen other agreements and memorandums of understanding were also inked, covering cooperation in environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade and science and technology.
For Pakistan, closer ties with Belarus offer several strategic advantages that include diversifying trade partnerships beyond traditional markets, enhancing defense collaboration through access to Belarusian technology and tapping into regional connectivity opportunities, with Belarus serving as a potential gateway to Eurasian markets.
The partnership also complements Pakistan’s broader goals, such as the development of an export-oriented economy.
UAE to grant 100,000 Pakistanis five-year visas this year – Sindh governor’s office
- Official statement quotes the UAE envoy mentioning the number of these visas his country plans to issue
- UAE consulate confirmed this week Pakistani citizens can apply for work, medical and other types of visas
KARACHI: The United Arab Emirates plans to issue five-year visas to 100,000 Pakistanis this year, according to an official statement released by authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Wednesday, following a visit by Governor Kamran Khan Tessori to the UAE consulate in Karachi.
The governor’s office and UAE authorities in Pakistan said this week all visa-related issues between the two countries had been resolved, and Pakistani nationals could now apply for five-year visas to the Emirates.
The development came amid widespread reports in recent months of a decline in visa approvals for Pakistanis, allegedly due to violations of local laws and customs, as well as political sloganeering while abroad.
Tessori visited the UAE consulate in Karachi on the invitation of UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi following a meeting between the two officials in Karachi on Monday.
“The governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori, was warmly welcomed by the UAE ambassador and consul general during his visit to the UAE consulate,” the Governor House said in a statement.
“The governor toured the visa center at the consulate, where the ambassador briefed him on the facility,” it added. “Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi said 100,000 Pakistanis would be granted five-year visas. The consul general added that applicants would be treated with great respect at the visa center and receive full cooperation.”
Earlier this week on Tuesday, the UAE consulate in Karachi issued a statement on the meeting between Tessori and Al-Zaabi.
“We love Pakistanis very much,” the statement quoted Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi as saying. “Every person can apply for a UAE visa … Pakistani citizens can also apply for a UAE visa for work, medical treatment and other needs.”
The UAE is home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally and a major contributor to remittance inflows to Pakistan.
Policymakers in Pakistan also view the UAE as an ideal export market due to its proximity, which reduces transportation and freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.
Gunmen kill three policemen in southwestern Pakistan
- The incident happened on the peripheries of Balochistan’s provincial capital Quetta
- Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti promises ‘revenge for the bloodshed of our martyrs’
QUETTA: At least three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were killed in southwestern Pakistan when armed militants targeted a police mobile in the volatile Balochistan province on Wednesday night, a senior police official said.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has faced a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch separatist groups accuse the central government of exploiting local resources, such as gold and copper, without benefiting the local population.
Islamabad denies the allegations, saying it is committed to improving the lives of local residents in the province through various development projects.
The latest attack took place on the peripheries of the provincial capital, Quetta, targeting a police vehicle parked near a restaurant.
“A police mobile was targeted after unknown gunmen riding on motorbikes attacked the police team with intense firing,” Muhammad Baloch, Senior Superintendent of Police, told Arab News.
“Three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were killed in the targeted attack and one was injured,” he added.
Baloch said the policemen were patrolling the area when the incident happened.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though suspicion is likely to fall on separatist militants, especially the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) that has previously targeted the police force in similar attacks.
CCTV footage of the attack seen by Arab News showed that armed men riding on two motorbikes attacked the police van. The gunmen, who had covered their faces, could also be seen escaping the area.
Sarfaraz Bugti, the Balochistan chief minister, condemned the attack, promising an effective response against the perpetrators.
“The state is not weak,” he said in a statement. “We will take revenge for the bloodshed of our martyrs.”
Last month, three policemen were killed and several injured after a police mobile was targeted with an improvised explosive device in Quetta.
Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed an uptick in militant violence recently, with the separatist BLA intensifying attacks against security forces and commuters in the region.
Last month, militants affiliated with the group held hundreds of hostages aboard the Jaffer Express, a passenger train, for nearly 36 hours before the army intervened and launched a rescue operation.
