26 September 2004	Sunday	10 Shaban 1425

PESHAWAR, Sept 25: Four major political parties on Saturday termed the killing of women in honour-related incidents against Islam as well as the Pukhtun traditions and called upon parliament to declare it intentional murder through a law.

The representatives of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Awami National Party and Jamaat-i-Islami said that they would support the proposed legislation aimed at curbing the menace.

At a panel discussion arranged by the Aurat Foundation in collaboration with the Peshawar Press Club, the representatives regretted that an MNA of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League had supported honour killing in parliament which clearly depicted the mind-set of the feudal class.

PPP's provincial president Raheemdad Khan said that killing a helpless woman in the name of honour amounted to killing the entire humanity. He said his party had moved a bill in the assembly but unfortunately the ruling coalition had not been supporting it.

"We need to change the social attitude as even in our parliament there are persons who support such killings," said ANP's deputy secretary-general Afrasiab Khattak.

He said a proper legislation on the matter was the need of the hour as the debate on the honour killing had now turned into a national discourse.

Mr Khattak, a former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, pointed out that in the 'genuine' jirga system such killings were never allowed. But, he said, over the past some decades the feudals had changed that system, allowing inhuman practices to creep into it. He said that in Pukhtunwali, the Pukhtun code of life, such things were not permissible.

Naeema Kishwar, an MPA and provincial president of the JUI's women wing, highlighted various instances from history wherein the companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had sought guidance from him and the Prophet had categorically stated that honour killing was not permissible in Islam.

"When the holy Prophet did not permit such inhuman practices then how can we become a party to that?" she asked. Ms Kishwar demanded that honour killing should be declared intentional murder.

The provincial deputy chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, Hakim Abdul Waheed, said that any legislation on the issue should be implemented in letter and in spirit.

Farah Aqil Shah, an MPA of the ANP, said the vested interest and feudals had promoted inhuman traditions in the name of religion. She said that women were killed not only in the name of honour, they were also handed over to rivals for settling disputes in accordance with the custom of Swara.

JUI leader Abdul Jalil Jan mentioned various steps taken by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's government in the NWFP and informed the panel that various laws were prepared against honour killing and Swara.

He regretted that their positive achievements were not highlighted by the media and opposition whereas only a single incident of removing billboards was repeatedly quoted.