Islamabad’s streets echo with untold stories of tragedy as honor killings continue to plague Pakistan, emerging as a profound human rights catastrophe. A recent investigative report reveals a stark reality: despite hundreds of cases annually, convictions remain heartbreakingly rare.
Published in The Express Tribune magazine, the study draws from official records and global research to paint a grim national portrait. High-profile incidents grab headlines, but beneath lies a systemic failure. Families often settle out of court, judicial delays drag on, and law enforcement falters, allowing perpetrators to evade justice under the guise of ‘honor’.
Punjab leads the grim statistics with 225 recorded honor killings, yet only two resulted in convictions. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 134 cases, with just two guilty verdicts. Sindh saw multiple incidents but zero convictions, while Balochistan’s 32 cases yielded only one. These numbers expose a chasm between violence and accountability.
Women’s rights advocate Imran Takker highlights that nearly 90 percent of victims are women, already marginalized in society. ‘Stronger police cases, thorough investigations, and robust prosecution could deliver harsh sentences,’ he asserts. Families frequently withdraw complaints, undermining the process.
Senior lawyer Shabbir Hussain Gigyani points to police shortcomings as the core issue. ‘Investigations are weak, and relatives listed as witnesses often reconcile with accused, flipping testimonies in court. This leads to acquittals in about 80 percent of cases,’ he explains.
SSDO Executive Director Syed Kauser Abbas calls for urgent reforms: bolster police probes, streamline legal procedures, and ensure swift trials. ‘The dismal conviction rate shows our system fails victims,’ he warns.
Rooted in entrenched traditions, honor killings punish those defying social norms through fear and brutality. Without rigorous enforcement, these acts persist as twisted moral corrections, perpetuating a cycle of impunity that demands immediate national reckoning.