AFTER the outrage over the rapid succession of brutal incidents targeting women, it is unfathomable why the government continues to drag its feet on the anti-rape and anti-‘honour’ killing bills. With so many women murdered by husbands, brothers and fathers, it is imperative that female legislators across party lines lobby their male colleagues to push through pro-women legislation. In Thursday’s incident in Multan, Khalida Bibi, a young mother of three, and a man, were tortured and hanged apparently by the male members of her family as punishment for an alleged liaison. The increasing number of women killed by close relatives denotes not only a disturbing pattern in which perpetrators strike with impunity knowing they will be pardoned, it is also an urgent call to the state to protect women. Data documented by Aurat Foundation reveals that 724 women were murdered in Punjab last year; 190 were killed by their husbands, 50 by their brothers and 24 by their fathers. These figures expose the state’s weak record in tackling the factors behind this continuing cycle of violence. Why has there been no movement on the proposed amendments — removing the forgiveness loophole — in the anti-honour killing law? It is inexcusable that Pakistan should forget its commitment to women, especially when it is a signatory to international obligations calling for institutionalising gender equality.

Meanwhile, those who kill for ‘honour’ are almost never punished, allowing the family of a victim to forgive the killer — almost always family. Not only are they forgiven, they are even supported by regressive patriarchies thus increasing the impunity factor — reason enough for removing punishment waivers and compoundability provisions from the law. Where crimes against women are declared crimes against the state, perpetrators have been penalised. As Pakistani women continue to challenge misogyny, their efforts should be supported by holding this government to its pledge to call a joint parliamentary session to pass the anti-honour killing and anti-rape bills so that women are protected against violence.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2016