In Pakistan Murder for Honour is an evil spawned by FEUDAL SOCIETY. End of feudalism and jirga system is mandatory to effectively control "Honour Killing". It would take a momentous effort by the society to challenge the feudals and the jirga system.
If the Government is committed to control this evil, then our approach has to be preventive , so such things do not happen, and supportive if physical abuse or murder for "honour" does happen.
Preventive measures:
- Judiciary, Police and Public have to be made aware of honour killing, violence against women and the abuse of Qisas and Diyat law by:
- Seminars financed by the Government with mandatory attendance of all Police officials and judges of lower courts. It should be open to public and widely covered in media.
- Monthly morning meetings in police stations and lower courts including but not limited to Sharia courts. Minutes of these meeting should be submitted to a panel made up of activists and respected citizens appointed by a bipartisan parliament committee against honour killing and abuse of women.
- A media campaign: Newspaper, TV and radio advertisements should be funded by the State to highlight these problems .
- Groups working to end violence against women should be given concessional rates by the State in newspaper, TV and radio media to highlight this national problem.
- Government should openly and strongly condemn the practice of honour killing .
- Gender sensitivity should be made a part of the curriculum in Police academies
- Judiciary and Police to be accountable :
- Panel should review complaints filed by the women victims of violence and cases of Honour killing or its threat. It should then prepare its annual reports and recommendation to the Parliament.
- Repeal or amend Qisas and Diyat law:
- The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has reviewed the Qisas and Diyat law. The consensus is that these laws are being overwhelmingly abused. In light of the NCSW recommendations, the law if not repealed should be amended such that it becomes very clear that murders committed to save "honour" would not be compoundable. Murder, irrespective of motive, will be considered a crime against the State and Society and will be tried as such.
Supportive Measures:
- Safety of threatened or abuse victims:
- Rehabilitation units should be funded by the State to ensure the safety of such women.
- Proper Government protection to be given to non-state rehabilitation units.
- Panel should be empowered to expedite steps to ensure safety in state or non-state funded rehabilitation units.
- Open threat to harm or kill another person should be enough justification for starting criminal proceedings against that person.
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