Rolling the dice of dignity: Couple killed over ‘honour’ in Charsadda

Assailant escapes after committing crime

SHABQADAR: A man and a woman were killed in a case of honour killing in Gulabad area of Charsadda on Monday morning. A police official told The Express Tribune Gul Da Ali Khan registered a case against his son, Alam Khan, for killing his sister-in-law, Zara, and Gul Rahman.

“According to the complainant, Rahman and Zara were having an extra-marital affair,” he said. “As a result, Alam barged into Zara’s house and gunned the couple down.” The official said Zara’s husband works in Saudi Arabia and was informed about her death over the telephone.

“Zara was buried in her family’s native graveyard,” he said. “Gul Rehman’s body was shifted to Bajaur Agency by his relatives.”

Alam managed to escape after committing the crime. Police are investigating the incident. This is one of the many cases of honour killings reported from Charsadda over the last few months.

The government and rights activists have turned a blind eye to the plight of these victims. Although cases are registered, police tend to ignore the investigation process and the matter is eventually resolved by a jirga.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2015.