Daily Times

The unfortunate murder of Qandeel Baloch is yet another addition to the long list of morbid events encapsulating our society. The social media sphere is replete with tweets and status updates discussing the legitimacy of the heinous reprisal committed against her. Clearly emerging from all these speculations is the outraged reaction of many to the moral decay that this society has fallen prey to. Reality has slapped us in the face with the fact that no individual is safe in this land, whether you’re Amjad Sabri or Qandeel Baloch. To say that it is heartbreaking would be putting the matter in lighter terms. There is no wrong in voicing criticism or even outright dislike for Qandeel Baloch. Everyone has the right to speak their mind, yet some people think their right extends well beyond that, to the point where actions such as murder are legitimate under the pretence of “honour.”

This is where things get out of hand, and this is what resulted in the tragedy we witnessed. Unfortunately, the extent of wrongdoing does not stop here. It is utterly repulsive and disgusting to see a major portion of the populace is supportive of this recent act of “honour” killing. They aver that the release of shocking and sensational videos by Qandeel is reason enough to justify sending her to the hereafter. After all where is the “honour” in what she did? They forget the fact that there is very little honour in what they do glued to computer screens, and locked in their rooms. Is that not sinful and shame-worthy?

We allow a mob of livid zealots to make choices on who should be murdered and who shouldn’t. It is time to draw a clear line on the matter, either we allow the so-called honour killings, or we don’t. Either we execute every single man and woman who has somehow tainted one’s honour, or we condemn this senseless act of violence. Let me tell you though, if we choose the former, we’ll be sending almost everyone to the gallows.

Why does the woman alone have to bear the burden for safe keeping the family’s honour, while the only repercussion the man faces is as trivial as a slap on the wrist? People are trying to justify the murder with the audacity to say that she didn’t leave her family an option and their “honour” was compromised. Where is the honour in killing someone? If your honour compels you to murder someone, well, my dear fellow, you aren’t very “honourable” to begin with. If this rationale is supported, how will you define honour? Someone’s honour might get hurt on the pettiest of things. You didn’t wave back to me on the street? Off to the chopping block with you. Where will you draw the line? Does everyone have the right to kill in the name of honour? Women may find men who do many a thing to rip their honour to shreds. Is it reasonable to hand them a gun and whisper, “It’s okay, if he has hurt your honour, pull the trigger”? For example, in the recent Qandeel incident, going by the same logic, can’t we conclude that Mufti Qavi hurt the “honour” of his family? Or does he have a “dishonourable” family since he is
still alive?

Qandeel was reportedly supporting her family financially for quite a few years. The woman singlehandedly got a house in Multan for her family, bore all expenses of her sister’s wedding and paid for her father’s medical expenses after he lost his leg in an incident. She was the breadwinner for the family. Even her eventual murderous brother took money from her to set up a mobile shop in Dera Ghazi Khan. I suppose his honour was off sleeping somewhere at the time when he took money from a sister who had “dishonoured” him so badly. This distorted sense of selective righteousness is disturbing, to say the least. When it suited him, he felt no tugs on his sense of honour. Yet when he decided the time was right, he bit the hand that fed him. Why did he escape the crime scene and run away if killing was for so-called honour? It proves nothing but the fact that he was superficial in
his beliefs.

A society where patriarchy is the norm and misogyny the product of its system can result in no good. When two men fight, the highest-ranking insults are those that are hurled towards their mothers and sisters. The minority has no concept of respecting women unless they are someone’s wife, sister, daughter or mother. A woman’s respect hinges on the crutches of her relationship with her man. As a matter of fact, her humanly status too can only be conferred at the behest of a man. A woman is not the safe keeper for honour. She is a person like you and me. She has aspirations, dreams and ambitions to become the best that she can. Simplifying her existence to condense it all down to honour is a pity. A woman should be respected regardless of her relationship with a certain man, and be given the chance to live life according to her will, and not the will of the man that seemingly defines her. This should come as no surprise to anyone that we have indeed suffered a lot, and it is time that the hefty number of killings in the name of honour is put an end to. How many women have to suffer and be made an “example” of before we pass the anti-honour bill?

The writer is a practising lawyer, and he can be reached on Twitter at @sahialiafzal