We as a nation have not taken the dowry in its true sense in this exploitative society. The stereotypical thinking of our society cannot be changed as it has adopted the name from the religion but the practice of demanding dowry is as per their requirement. We have always been hearing that dowry is a curse but in reality we have misinterpreted the concept.
It has become a binding duty of the bride to bring with her a collection of all sorts of appliances, furniture and other household items as usually only then does the groom's family welcome and show regard to the bride.

Human rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has reported many incidents that are labeled 'dowry death', that is the bride has been murdered because she did not bring a sufficient dowry with her. It has been found that in remote and rural areas this problem is deep-rooted and many women have been murdered violently because of this. This problem exists does not only in Pakistan but in India and other countries of South Asia also, in fact in India it is reported to be much worse than here.

In Islam the idea of dowry was to set the precedent to give gifts to the daughter when she gets married and leaves the house. These are the gifts which parents could easily give on their own will without being forced by anyone. But now the groom's family often demand a large dowry and don't get embarrassed that they are openly showing their material motives. Newly wed girls have been burned in fire by stove blasts or gas leaks and a number of women have also been burnt by sprinkling kerosene oil on them and then setting them alight on this dowry issue.

Now the government and the HRCP has been trying to create awareness about this menace of dowries and also implementing arranging mass weddings for poor people at the expense of the government or the NGO so that grooms will have no complaint about the dowry. This year about a thousand couples have been married in the NWFP and Punjab.

We all have to be united to fight against this social evil. Lets start from our own house.. Will you stand against Dowry when it comes on you? Think!!