Violence against women: ‘Existing law ineffective in dealing with honour killings’

Expert says the Qisas and Diyat law allows perpetrators to go unpunished.

ISLAMABAD:

The existing law on honour killings has not brought any relief to women. In fact, the Qisas and Diyat Ordinance is allowing perpetrators to get off scot-free due to familial nature of these crimes, Hina Jillani, lawyer and human rights activist, said on Thursday.

She was speaking at an event organised by Women Action Forum as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

The Qisas and Diyat law, passed in the early ‘90s, allows relatives of the victim to either pardon the murderer or ask for monetary compensation. Since most honour killings are committed by brothers, fathers or other male relatives, murderers go unpunished because they are pardoned by family members. “There is total impunity for honour killings,” she said.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Jillani said it is relatively easier to demand women rights in the current democratic set-up compared to the Ziaul Haq’s regime, when some of the most discriminatory laws were passed.

But still, there are hurdles.

“Political pressure on the government, especially in areas where the military has not let go of the reins completely, makes it difficult [to get rid of discriminatory laws],” she said. However, she appreciated the fact that the ruling party at least “makes a commitment” to promote women rights.

Earlier, the event, held under a canopy and tents in front of the France Colony in F-7/4, started with a performance by singer Abida Aijaz. Among the poems she sang was Habib Jalib’s famous “Ab dehr mein bay yaar-o madadgar nahi hum.”

Jalib had read the poem during the first mass protest by women against discriminatory laws in Lahore in 1983. Incidentally, the call for that protest had been given by Jillani.



Moreover, Harris Khalique, writer and poet, talked about the lack of tolerance and the growing sectarian divide in Pakistan. “The problem is not of tolerance, it is of acceptance and inclusion,” he said.

“Tolerance is the first step of bearing with people having a different ideology or religion. Society’s progress is only achieved when minorities are guaranteed security, inclusion in decision-making and the right to freely make decisions.”

He said it is ironic that the country, which was formed on the basis of minority rights and decentralisation of power, has struggled to achieve either of those goals.

“As long as people’s rights are denied under a policy of division and segregation, sectarianism will continue to rise,” he said.

Singer Arieb Azhar also performed at the event, which was attended by WAF members, supporters of women rights, students and residents of the France Colony.

WAF is a national non-profit human rights organisation which focuses on women rights and opposes discriminatory practices against vulnerable groups.

The 16 days of activism campaign started on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will continue till December 10, the United Nations’ Human Rights Day.

This year, Pakistani social media users are also participating in the campaign, especially on Twitter using the hash tag #16days.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2012.