Honour killings is a reality in Pakistan, no one can deny from it. However, in Sindh this practice is taking pace and the state and even the government is mum on the draconian issue. Moreover, social norms and cultural values are deeply rooted in interior Sindh. Therefore, the concept of killing a woman on the name of honour is a part of tribal culture. It is the social, economic and political brocade of this society. People kill their daughters, sisters and even mothers under this pretext and go scot-free because the head of the family or other members then pardon the killers while taking “Diyat, Blood money”.
If we talk about the overall Sindhi society, then there is a very strong influence of local elites in all parts of Sindh, in particular rural Sindh, and these have a direct influence on all aspects of the lives of common people. They also enjoy control over government institutions such as the police, courts, district administrations, education and health. In the local language there are many terms for rural elite (feudal lord), such as Wadero, Sardar, Raees, and Pir. Local elites enjoy power in all sort of governments whether it is democracy or dictatorship; one way or another they are part of the government, though more permeable in some societies than others. They are members of legislative assemblies, ministers and government advisors. It is in their interest to keep the people backward, uneducated, and economically dependent; to rule them through official government machinery and private bandits. Due to the massive power base of the ‘feudal’ no one dare raise his/her voice against the landlord for fear of being socially excluded, economically crippled or facing terror. The existing undistributed feudal power and cruel exercise of that power by feudal lords is a major factor that supports honour related crimes.
How one can forget the incident of honour killings which last year happened of social media star Qandeel Baloch and British-Pakistani Samia Shahid. However, several incidents happened in Sindh, in Shiekarpur two girls — Abida and Tehmina — who had fled their homes were hunted down, killed and buried by their families. The murder of a Pakistani singer Samina Sindhu, 24, in Larkana and now recently Bano Brohi of Sanghar district, was shot dead by her brothers and uncle. These all are just not murders. It is more than that. It is a reflection of our society
Just to highlight for my readers that in 2018, a report furnished by Sindh’s women development department shows a total of 1,643 cases of various types of violent acts — from honour killing to custody of children and maintenance — were filed by women from across the province since July last year 2017. Within this report its clearly mentioned that district Jacobabad is being infamously is on the top such crimes. However, a survey, carried out by Sindh Journalists Network for Children (SJN) for United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) during the year 2001, shows that 44 percent of the women killed were between the ages of 15-20 years, whereas six percent were above the age of forty. Within this report its mentioned that almost 50 percent of all honour killings were carried out by husbands, number of sisters killed by their brothers was 19 percent, while Almost 50 percent of all honour killings were carried out by husbands, 19 percent were killed by their brothers, while 6 percent of the victims were killed by their sons, and 4 percent murdered by their fathers, uncles etc.
As I have spent almost 2 years in Province Sindh, I totally agree that in Sindh women are dependent on sympathy of men. They don’t possess any right of ownership of any property. Even, women have no right to earn money for their livelihood. The expensive of basic necessities such as food, cloth and health are fulfilled by men. That’s why; women are totally relied on sympathy of men. Owing to, weak financial position of women, they are vulnerable to become victim of honour killing. Sadly, government institution or even state is not showing up for protecting the rights the women.
Two important bills were presented in the Sindh Assembly previously against honour killing and acid throwing incidents. The bills, the Sindh Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act and the Anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, have been moved by the women development department. However, still its in pending stage, but newly established government should take up this issue and pass this law without any more delay. While doing so, Sindh will be the first province in Pakistan to pass a law against honour killing. According to the law, the crime will be considered murder and the station house officer (SHO) concerned will register the case under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code. “Murder under the pretext of honour killing also known as karo-kari is a non-compoundable offence, which cannot be compromised by the victim and the offender,” says the laws, adding that the government will award capital punishment or life-imprisonment to those found guilty of this offense.
How one can forget the incident of honour killings which last year happened of social media star Qandeel Baloch and British-Pakistani Samia Shahid. However, several incidents happened in Sindh, in Shiekarpur two girls – Abida and Tehmina – who had fled their homes were hunted down, killed and buried by their families. The murder of a Pakistani singer Samina Sindhu, 24, in Larkana and now recently Bano Brohi of Sanghar district, was shot dead by her brothers and uncle. These all are just not murders. It is more than that. It is a reflection of our society.
“I personally believe that the honour murders may be prevented by reducing the influence and interference of feudal lords on state institutions, in particular law enforcement agencies, and by promoting education that challenges a patriarchal and feudal mind-set in the community”
While talking with Saira Ahmed, who is working on the issues of Honour Killings said, “Sindh has come up with highest number of women protection laws during last few years but it would take some time to change the mindset in the society. She said influential people in Sindh do not allow proper prosecution involving crimes against women. There is also lack of awareness in police and law enforcement agencies about women rights. She said adding that Jirga system is also a big impediment in improving women rights in the province”.
I personally believe that the honour murders may be prevented by reducing the influence and interference of feudal lords on state institutions, in particular law enforcement agencies, and by promoting education that challenges a patriarchal and feudal mind-set in the community.
The writer is a social and political activist based in Lahore. He has done his Maters and MPhil in Communication Studies. He can be reached at [email protected] and tweets @Salmani_salu
Published in Daily Times, October 25th 2018.