Punjab sees decline in honour killing cases over last eight years

Least number of cases reported in Narowal

LAHORE: The number of honour killing cases has decreased in Punjab over a period of eight years. The data compiled by Punjab police shows that a total of 2,523 cases were registered in the last eight years (2011-2018).

The information also shows that at least 364 cases were registered in 2011 as compared to 244 in 2018. In 2012, 366 incidents were recorded. The number soared to 388 in 2013 and 404 in 2014.

The number witnessed a decrease in 2015, 2016 and 2017 as 328, 248 and 181 cases were registered, respectively.

Top cities

The worst-infested area has been Faisalabad where the largest number, 274 cases, have been reported so far. However, the encouraging fact is that the numbers are declining gradually in the city. The number of cases decreased up to 50% from 2011 to 2018. In 2011, at least 43 cases as compared to 22 in 2018 were reported. As many as 37, 38, 40, 44, 31 and 19 cases have been reported in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

In Sargodha, the second-largest number, 162 cases, have been reported from 2011 to 2018. The third-largest number- 122- was reported in Chiniot, fourth, 120, in Rahim Yar Khan and fifth i.e. 117 in Rajanpur.

In Narowal, the least number of cases, eight, were reported. No case of honour killing was reported in the district in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In Jhelum, nine cases were reported in eight years.

The highest ratio of decrease was observed in Nankana Sahib where the number of cases decreased from 13 in 2011 to one in 2018. In the district, 10 cases were reported in 2012, 10 in 2013, 15 in 2014, 14 in 2015, none in 2016 and two in 2017.

Top region

There are four cities in Faisalabad division; Faisalabad, TT Singh, Chiniot and Jhang. The region was reported to be the most infested as compared to the remaining nine divisions. A total of 527 cases were reported here. The two cities of the region; Faisalabad and Chiniot, also topped the list when categorised as the worst-affected cities. 274 cases in Faisalabad, 122 in Chiniot and 116 in Jhang have been reported. However, 15 cases were registered in TT Singh, the fourth city of the region.

However, the numbers have decreased in 2018 and 2017 when compared to 2011. As many as 71, 71, 92, 76, 76, 61, 37 and 43 cases have been reported respectively since 2011.

Faisalabad has been followed by the Sargodha region where 338 cases have recorded. As many as 47, 53, 57, 43, 42, 36, 30 and 30 cases have been registered in 2011, 2012, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively.

In the Multan region, 271 cases were registered. 43 in 2011, 41 in 2012, 45 in 2013, 54 in 2014, 39 in 2015, 21 in 2016, eight in 2017 and 20 cases in 2018 were registered in the region. As many as 269 of cases in DG Khan region, 221 in Bahawalpur, 221 in Sahiwal, 257 in Gujranwala and 239 in Lahore Range were registered.

The least number of cases were registered in Rawalpindi with 81 in eight years. However, the region has witnessed an ascending trend as 17 cases were registered in 2018 as compared to seven in 2011.

Eight cases in 2012, nine in 2013, eight in 2014 nine in 2015, 12 in 2016 and 12 in 2017 were registered.

Honour killing is a serious issue in the country. The problem has been recognised at the sensitised forums. The murder of model Qandeel Baloch further highlighted the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2019.