HYDERABAD: The Awami Tehreek leaders have accused the Pakistan Peoples Party’s government of making tribal chiefs stronger and more powerful than even the law and its enforcers, resulting in phenomenal increase in heinous crimes of kidnapping, theft, robbery and crimes against women.

President of the party’s Thar chapter, Advocate Vasand Thari, senior vice president Noor Ahmed Katiar, central vice president Hoorunnisa Palijo and others said in a joint statement issued here on Thursday that instead of upholding rule of law and the constitution, the provincial government had strengthened tribal chiefs and their jirgas.

They said the government was solely responsible for growing lawlessness in the province and condemned its failure to legislate against cyber-bullying, which had contributed to an increase in suicide cases among victimised women.

About case of a female student who died by suicide in Tando Adam, they said that Sindh government was directly responsible for the suicide of Urooj Kashmiri, a student who ended her life after her pictures were circulated on social media by blackmailers.

They said that according to Sonia Kashmiri, the victim’s mother, Urooj and her sister Kainat were harassed by two men who had abducted Urooj, subjected her to rape and recorded videos of the assault. Later, when the blackmailers shared uploaded some of her pictures on social media, Urooj killed herself, they said.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2024