April 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 07, 1428

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VEHARI, April 24: The killing of women in the name of honour continues despite new legislation.

There is a general perception that the crime has rather increased. No authentic data is available as, in many cases, either police do not register cases or relatives are not interested in lodging and pursuing the cases.

Perveen, 23, was stabbed to death by her husband Sajid during a panchayat in Chak 12/WB a few days ago. Later, he told police that he killed his wife due to her loose morals.

Another case was reported in Burewala on Sunday last where Ashraf shot dead his sister Zainab in Chak 263/EB for her refusal to accept exchange marriage (Watta Satta).

In the third incident reported recently, Nazia was killed by her husband over similar charges.

Ms Saboohi Hasan, ex-chairperson of Women Crises Centre, Vehari, said despite the fact that more and more girls were getting education and awareness was growing among them about their rights, honour killings were rising.

She said amendments to the Hudood laws and passage of Women Protection Bill had failed to ensure protection and safety to women.

According to her personal experience, more than 60 per cent such cases were not registered in rural areas. Moreover, families did not take interest in pursuing the cases for the fear of loss of their male members. “This sitution encourages men to kill women at their whims ,” she added.

District Bar Association president Rana Sajid said a majority of the accused involved in the honour killings was acquitted due to lack of evidence. “It is due to the government failure to implement the law in letter and spirit,” he thought.

Moreover, police avoided registration of honour killing cases on different kinds of pressures, including that of family and political.

A few months ago, Shamim was burnt alive by her husband in Chak 9-11/WB, while a pregnant girl committed suicide when her lover refused to marry her in Makkah Town. But the police concerned declared the deaths accidental as the families of the victims did not want to lodge cases.

Ashraf of Muslim Town had killed his two sisters on the allegation of loose morals. He was released from jail when his mother withdrew her complaint against him.

Advocate Rao Sajjad, a human rights activist, said that the killers claimed that they got enraged on seeing women and their lovers in compromising position. But actually, he said, they knew that the country’s police investigation and judicial system would win them freedom.

He said even in cases of target killings, men accused their victims of having bad character and used this excuse to win sympathies.

Since 2004, non-governmental organisations have dealt with dozens of honour-related crimes in the district and adjoining areas. “The violence against women is on the rise because the prosecution rate is negligible. Men know they can get away. Mere legislation can’t solve the problem unless the mindset of the society is changed and literacy rate is increased in rural areas,” he added.

The rate of reporting of crimes against women has increased due to greater awareness about their rights among them.

According to Vehari police record, 109 women had been killed in the district on various reasons since 2004. A police source said a majority of the accused involved in these cases had been released or acquitted due to various reasons.

When contacted, Vehari DPO Malik Tassadaq Hayat said acquittal of the accused in most of the cases was due to the fear or weakness of the complainant family.

Most of the time, he said, they struck deals with the accused without informing the police.

He said police registered FIRs according to the incident and not just on information of the complainant.