GBV and police apathy

The Sindh High Court recently issued a scathing rebuke of the police for their non-serious approach to investigating honour killing cases. The court's observations are a grim reminder of how a flawed and negligent criminal justice system enables perpetrators to walk free, reinforcing a culture of impunity.

Despite the alarming frequency of honour killings in Pakistan, law enforcement agencies continue to treat these crimes with indifference, prioritising financial incentives over justice.

The modus operandi of honour killings is well understood within the criminal justice system. The killers, often close family members, exploit legal loopholes and societal norms to ensure acquittal. Witnesses, many of whom are either coerced or complicit, conveniently retract their statements at trial.

Crucial evidence is either never collected or deliberately overlooked. Prosecutors, lacking any solid groundwork, fail to build a case, and the courts, bound by legal procedures, are left with no choice but to exonerate the accused. Worse still, the police see these cases as an opportunity to extort money from the accused rather than ensuring justice for the victims. If the state is serious about tackling honour killings, it must first reform its police force. Investigators must be equipped with advanced forensic tools and trained in modern investigative techniques.

More importantly, there must be a shift in mindset in recognising honour killings for what they are: brutal acts of murder, not private disputes. Accountability mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that officers who botch investigations, whether out of negligence or corruption, face consequences.

Until the police start treating honour killings with the seriousness they deserve, the cycle of impunity will continue, and justice will remain a distant dream for countless victims. The state must act prudently, before more lives are lost to this deeply entrenched crime.