KARACHI, July 22: The women in Pakistani society must be empowered so that Pakistan can truly prosper. These views were expressed by women’s rights activist Anees Haroon, resident director, Aurat Foundation in a presentation on “honour killing in Pakistan” at the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi at a seminar organized under the programme of peace studies and conflict resolution on Thursday.

She further emphasized that serious violations of women’s rights were taking place in Pakistan.

Ms Haroon presented some glaring statistics regarding the violence faced by women in Pakistan. In Pakistan, she explained, mindsets of the people were very primitive and the condition of women in Pakistan was very deplorable.

In honour killing, the women were considered as property and they were exploited and they had no right to marry a person of their own choice, she added.

Talking on the reasons of Karo kari, Ms Anees Haroon illustrated the fact that all violence had somehow a material base, and in Karo kari.

In her recommendations, she stressed the need for the promotion of education and proper enforcement of law in our society, irrespective of gender discrimination.

Outlining various suggestions to prevent honour killings and protecting the rights of women in Pakistan, she called for effective police reforms, ending feudalism, giving special attention to the education of women, abolition of the jirga system and better laws for providing better security and safety for women in Pakistan.