Pakistan’s Parliament has enacted a long-awaited bill to close loopholes that have been used to allow killers of women to go free under the pretext of defending “family honor.”
Under the new legislation, murderers, usually fathers, brothers, husbands or other male relatives, will now get a mandatory life sentence.
Previously, killers, most of the times, could be pardoned by a victim’s family to avoid a jail term. Now forgiveness will only spare them capital punishment.
According to human rights organizations, the new measure is a step in the right direction to protect women.
In another significant move, the Parliament has introduced a provision allowing DNA tests to ascertain identity of the rapists. When passed the measure will remove weakness in the previous legislation that relied heavily on circumstantial evidence.
In Washington, the United States welcomed Pakistan’s unanimous passing of legislation against so-called “honor killings.
“We commend the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to end this practice.This legislation is an important step toward protecting women and girls in Pakistan and promoting their full participation in society. Raising social awareness and holding perpetrators accountable are critical next steps, and we will continue to support Pakistan’s efforts.”
“The United States regularly reports on violence against women and girls around the globe and works to prevent and respond to such violence, including advancing accountability by working with law enforcement, supporting civil society’s efforts, and engaging with critical stakeholders such as men and boys,” the State Department said.
Qandeel Baloch
Killings in the name of honor, violence and discriminatory treatment of women have plagued deeply conservative South Asian societies since ages. In Pakistan, more than 1000 women were killed by relatives during last year in the name of honor. A lot of cases are not reported due to social apathy, weak governance, and family pressures.
Before the passage of the new law, legal lacunae allowed killers of women to escape punishment as they could seek forgiveness for the crime from another family member.
Just a couple of months ago, a number of high-profile deaths have made headlines including the killing of British woman Samia Shahid in July, allegedly by her father and her former husband in northern Punjab district of Jehlum while Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch was killed by her brother in the Southern Punjab district of Multan.
A 2005 amendment to the law pertaining to “honor killings” prevented men who kill female relatives pardoning themselves as an ‘heir’ of the victim.
The question is what is next after the passage of the law.
The administration, particularly its law enforcement arms, society and courts in the judicial process, each has a role to fulfill in order to stem the inhuman treatment of women.
