Three women in one family murdered for 'honour' in Faislabad

They were shot dead by male relatives who suspected them of having "illicit relations" with other men


Afp May 11, 2016
File photo of woman in Pakistan during a protest in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE: Three young women in one family were shot dead by male relatives who suspected them of having "illicit relations" with other men, police said on Wednesday.

The women, aged 22, 28 and 29, all lived in the same house in Faisalabad.

"The men suspected that the three women had illicit relations with other men and shot them in the chest and face and fled after the murders," police investigator Mohammad Ayub told AFP.

'Honour' killing: Young couple shot dead in Karachi for marrying of their free will

Police have launched a manhunt, he said, added that it appeared to a case of "honour killings".

Officials at the local police station confirmed the account.

Last week a teenage girl in the country's northwest was strangled and her body set ablaze after a village council ruled she must die for helping a friend to elope, sparking anger from rights activists.

The state has amended its criminal code in 2005 to prevent men who kill female relatives escaping punishment by pardoning themselves as an "heir" of the victim.

But it is left to a judge's discretion to decide whether to impose a prison sentence when other relatives of the victim forgive the killer – a loophole which critics say is still exploited.

"A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness" -- a film telling the story of a rare survivor of an attempted honour killing -- won the Academy Award for best documentary short in February.

Publicity surrounding the film prompted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to vow to eradicate the "evil" of honour killings, but no fresh legislation has been tabled since then.

COMMENTS (7)

Azi | 7 years ago | Reply Just another day in life of intolerant people. They themselves can have relationships with other women but their own women cant have relationships with other men. The hypocrisy is ironic. @Habib: Actually honor killings are also very common in India as well. They wont go away just because you asked, unless you can find them a job.
Bindi Kazmi | 7 years ago | Reply All the supporters of "Honor Killings" were the biggest critics of A Girl In The River: The Price Of Forgiveness by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. They said she is a ploy of the West to make Pakistan look bad and because there are no "honor killing" in the country. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif watched the film, he said he would change the laws on honor killing.But as usual all talk little action when it comes to protecting women in Pakistan.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ