Mother sentenced to death for 'honour killing' of daughter Zeenat Bibi
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An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday sentenced a mother to death in a case of 'honour killing' for burning her daughter alive in June 2016 after she contracted a 'free-will marriage'.
18-year-old Zeenat Rafiq of Lahore's Factory Area was set on fire by her mother Parveen Bibi more than a week after the girl reportedly eloped with Hasan Khan to marry him before a court in Lahore.
Parveen Bibi had earlier confessed she had murdered her daughter for "bringing shame to the family".
Police had suspected that Parveen was helped by her son and son-in-law in killing the girl.
ATC-IV judge Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas on Monday sentenced Parveen to death in the 'honour killing' case, and sentenced Zeenat's brother Anees to life in prison. Zeenat's sister's husband was acquitted in the case.
It was revealed in court that Zeenat's mother and brothers had first beaten her, then her mother threw kerosene on her and set her on fire.
Parveen in court today accepted responsibility for Zeenat's death.
Zeenat's husband, Hasan Khan last June had agreed to let his wife return to her home after her family promised, in the days before her murder, to organise a traditional wedding reception for the couple.
He earlier told the media that Zeenat was not willing to go back to her parents’ home because she feared they would kill her. "But she agreed after her family gave assurances regarding her safety," he was quoted by a TV channel as saying.
Witnesses had told Dawn that they had alerted the emergency rescue service after they saw smoke coming out of Parveen’s home.
"Police and rescue firefighters reached the spot, put out the blaze and recovered the body of the girl," a witness had said earlier.
After Zeenat Bibi was set on fire in a low-income neighbourhood of Lahore, none of her relatives sought to claim her body, police said, leaving her husband's family to bury her charred remains in the dark in a graveyard near the city.
With additional reporting by Imran Gabol.
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On DawnNews
Comments (94) Closed
Jan 16, 2017 04:11pm
Justice done right, people should understand the mother's action didn't bring family any honor if the thought eloping was shameful.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:15pm
Is nobody batting an eyelid to the fact that she was sentenced by an Anti-Terrorism Court? Even though this case should be taken up by the civil judiciary that's supposed to be concerned with these issues while the ATCs should be handling terrorism cases instead of honour killings.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:12pm
This women, mother should ask, is honour more important or teachings of Islam, not to kill. The girl only married of her own choice. What's the shame in that.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:15pm
A timely judgment to discourage the so called 'honour killing'.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:15pm
Feeling bad for a mother. no mother will do this act until n unless she is forced to do so by society and this is a case of "Dunia kia Kahy Gi"......we have to change the mind set of our society....
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Jan 16, 2017 04:21pm
Mother could have boycotted her instead of taking her life,particularly when she had not committed any crime.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:16pm
Great decision.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:27pm
@GORSI: No... What makes you think that it is the society that is always bad? It is her mother's own personal rotten beliefs and stupidity that led her to do this heinous crime of burning her daughter alive in Fire... This was an evil act,
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Jan 16, 2017 04:23pm
Great Justice! Poor soul daughter R.I.P!
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Jan 16, 2017 04:30pm
Kill the honor, not the helpless poor girls.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:29pm
You know this country is a mess when your emotional attachment to your religion, culture and tradition is more important than someone's life.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:29pm
@Zak Islam permits the girl and the boy to marry with their own choices. Arranged marriage is a Hindu tradition.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:31pm
Its not enough or right to make strict laws for Honour killing and thats not justice because Govt do nothing to educate/Culture their citizen and making laws/ establish court not justify their responsibility. its govt duty first educate/culture/awareness to society to prevent these act then make strict laws to counter.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:36pm
@Anon - Burning a daughter alive is not less serious than terrorism by any means!
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Jan 16, 2017 04:36pm
@Gorsi In certain cases fear of reprisal force people to look at their attitudes. You can turn a blind eyes towards crimes against humanity hoping to 'change the mindset' first.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:38pm
I am sad and sorry.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:40pm
@gorsi
You got it wrong.
Dunya kucch kahay, this is a heinous crime . And no excuse to commit such crime!
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Jan 16, 2017 04:47pm
Society's mind set could only be changed by educating them. Our Governments will never invest enough in education sector as it wont help them winning next elections.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:49pm
read today's bbc news, a mother killed her 3 children in Melbourne. It is a problem with human psychology,
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Jan 16, 2017 04:56pm
Now the girl's soul can Rest In Peace.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:57pm
No honor left in this country.
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Jan 16, 2017 04:57pm
It should deter others from committing similar offense.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:06pm
The issue of honour killing mostly lies in strong family systems of agrarian society, where endogamous marriages are common. Often, a source of strength and a mode for resource sharing from cattle to women. However, it is a normal biological behaviour for a woman/ man to try to diversify it's gene pool by choosing to marry outside of clan. This is an attempt to avoid genetic diseases and stale inherent trait.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:17pm
Right decision by the justice. Her complices should also be given the same sentence.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:23pm
Justice delivered. Now act on it.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:25pm
Not surprised. This is a classic reaction of a society which is numb to all forms of violence. Please look at the violence meted out to animals, minorities, children, women in the name of honor, culture, honor, religion etc before making counter remarks.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:28pm
Please spread act of kindness, stop back biting that's common igniter behind these incidents ...
Strange there was no one around in the family to stop this.. how cruel we have become ...
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Jan 16, 2017 05:43pm
@Vague Buster human psychology? how can you equate honor killing to human psychology? i would call honor killing inhuman psychology...
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Jan 16, 2017 05:47pm
I am pretty sure it was the son of the woman who killed the girl. The mother accepted the charges to save him. The court must give an exemplary punishment to this savage 'brother' who made a mom kill her daughter to save his son's so-called honor.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:52pm
I believe mother is just a weapon here.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:07pm
on the surface, the justice seems to be done and triumphant,notwithstanding the flawed sense of immorality has been victorious and we have lost another innocent life. In order to win, we have to change the mindset of our people otherwise what is worth of an expeditious and just decision if we come across another zeenat bibi in future.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:04pm
This is sad.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:18pm
eloping with her selection has brough bad name to the family, burning alive her own daughter does not bring back the honor.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:13pm
The mother is definitely saving her man or sons. Two women being sacrificed to protect the so-called honor of the men.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:16pm
In a country where love is shameful, where killing is honourably, where freedom of expression is a cardinal sin, where difference of opinion is treated by death sentencing, where debating a theological matter is a taboo, then that country in these modern times are very unlikely to survive.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:29pm
Justice is served.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:35pm
Now Zeenat's soul will rest in peace.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:38pm
If she gets death penalty for killing her daughter in the name of honour. But what about the killing such innocents done in name og honour on regular bases in different part of Pakistan. Previously tribal and semi tribal societies being blamed for such heinous crime but now literate segment of society taking equal part in such killing done in the name of honour. There are number of incidents reported in media where law enforcement agencies especially police found involved. Above all there should be equal justice system people commiting this crime no matter on what grounds they do.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:42pm
Great decision. Justice served. Thanks ATC
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Jan 16, 2017 06:41pm
Whenever I open DAWN page I see horrible episodes from this country in this 21st century. Few days ago abduction of social media activists and now this sad story. How on earth a mother can burn her own daughter. Those activists were criticizing exactly THIS mindset.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:52pm
It is gar better to produce educational environment where children before they become parents can understand maturity abouy all aspects of life. Otherwise such wastage of previous lives will continue. Education opens minds and elevates maturity where mutual trust develops to make life decisions beyond local blind customs and distortions glamorized by the newly found social media. Unfortunately, in the system that bleeds national wealth, there is not enough resources for proper education. And so it stays for most if not all.
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Jan 16, 2017 06:49pm
ASTAGHFIRULLAH. ASTAGHFIRULLAH
Tragedy after Tragedy.
How a mother can be so cruel unless and until she be influenced by the extremely toxic thoughts & false ego of ignorance.
So much reforms and proper Islamic Education is needed so that people can understand the true sense of dignity & human values.
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Jan 16, 2017 07:39pm
So sad. I can't understand how come a mother who gives birth can take away the life of her child and that too in the worst manner.
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Jan 16, 2017 07:54pm
We need a strong deterrent for both MEN and women with respect to honor killings.
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Jan 16, 2017 08:10pm
@Babar agree 100%.
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Jan 16, 2017 08:10pm
I don't see maulanas or the so called religious parties coming out protesting against the mothers action. Where are you all.
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Jan 16, 2017 08:14pm
Two things need to mentioned in here, First is people are saying why it was tried in a terrorism court, well it is because its speedy and faster, rest the pleadings are normal as they go in a regular court, its speedy, justice delayed is justice denied. Secondly i think the punishment is just right
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Jan 16, 2017 08:47pm
Hope people will learn from this and live in peace
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Jan 16, 2017 09:00pm
burning her own child. She is no mother
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Jan 16, 2017 09:11pm
Can't comment on this.. RIP Zeenat..
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Jan 16, 2017 09:18pm
Do not call the cold blooded murderer "Mother"
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Jan 16, 2017 09:16pm
A lead forward
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Jan 16, 2017 09:30pm
This is a big example and deterrent for other such cases in the making. More exposure of this punishment, specially to the illiterate sector of the society, through every possible mean, is required.
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Jan 16, 2017 09:46pm
A mother is someone who would die for her children. this woman is evil
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Jan 16, 2017 09:55pm
Before we go on framing any strict legislation to deal with loss of innocent lives in the name of honor, it’s imperative to understand the condition of "MOTHER" which she must have gone through while she attempted the killing of her very own child by any mean. It's not as simple as it seems & everyone blaming her & giving ATC credit for ensuring speedy justice. Actually, we socially have become so insensitive, in the killing of GIRL who blamed for defaming the values by getting married to a person of her choice, overall social system should be blamed for it, which actually pushed mother for such heinous crime. State should be blamed for its lack of commitment in framing legislation & its effective implementation. Our religious leader should be blamed for making no efforts in educating people in dealing their day to day life matters. By all means we failed in dealing with mindset that is given the name of "Honor". It's is simple to blame one person for doing that.
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Jan 16, 2017 10:11pm
@Zak "The girl only married of her own choice. What's the shame in that". Good to see a liberal sentiment from you. Actually I see this episode as yet another example of the tragedy of women born and brought up in our geography. The values that prompted the mother are obviously from a male dominated society where such exercises of power over those who cannot defend themselves are the norm. You can even see this as an example of the "Stockholm Syndrome" where hostages start seeing reality as their kidnappers. I think the sentence is unduly harsh.
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Jan 16, 2017 10:09pm
Her being shamed up is more important than her own daughter's life?? - what kind of a selfish and an evil person would do such a thing?? Any mum in this world will protect her daughter's life at any cost. She is no mum - she just gave birth to someone, whom she has no right to call her a daughter. What a shame.
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Jan 16, 2017 10:13pm
@Gorsi
I understand the sentiment, but would beg to differ. She was well aware of her actions and the idea of "what will others think" is not an excuse. Especially in a case like this.
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Jan 16, 2017 10:22pm
Tit for tat.
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Jan 16, 2017 11:41pm
What a tragedy for the family. Daughter died a gruesome death and mother will die an " honourable " death.
What a honour this family has earned.
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Jan 17, 2017 12:19am
@Anon this is more horror to kill your own daughter,our society polluted by such mind sets to save dignity but set on fire the humanity.
i feel sad for parveen bibi too but justice can only divert and fear ppl mind by perpetrating such heinous and dark deeds .
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Jan 17, 2017 12:32am
This crime was heinous but death penalty is NOT appropriate. There are mitigating circumstances. The mother gave life, took it. Life imprisonment would have been sufficient with parole after 25years.
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Jan 17, 2017 12:54am
Justice would be to provide security against such happening. No justice has been done to the girl or her husband. The constitution needs to consider the right of living a life. It does not. Justice becomes impossible in such situations. It is so primitive to think that justice has been delivered.
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Jan 17, 2017 01:16am
I think this mother must have been pressurized by her sons and relatives to take that kind of extreme step.
We as a society are also responsible for these kind of actions because we are the ones who are too much judgmental about someones private life.
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Jan 17, 2017 01:17am
The only person who has bought shame on this family is her mother that woman deserves what is coming to her.
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Jan 17, 2017 01:32am
@Anon, honour killing is terrorism.
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Jan 17, 2017 01:34am
@analyses : These beliefs are born in the society that promote such behaviour if in the similar society it is considered bad I am sure same folks would not be hurting others in the name of some twisted ideology.
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Jan 17, 2017 01:43am
@Amjad : I agree, this law should be implemented for all and we need to get rid of this serious disease from the minds of these so-called Jirga folks as well.
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Jan 17, 2017 01:40am
@Gorsi : This is that "start" you are mentioning.
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Jan 17, 2017 04:20am
Animals in Pakistanis;what a shameful "izat" culture bringing disgrace to Pakistanis and Islam. The punishment must be swift and severe.
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Jan 17, 2017 05:15am
@Zak world knows the reality! but keep living in your own world!
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Jan 17, 2017 05:36am
Shameful killing, how her brother escaped, could have been given the same punishment.
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Jan 17, 2017 05:40am
Ignorance destroys another family. How is it "honorable" to kill your own child to satisfy family "pride"? Maybe these families need to re-evaluate what they should be proud of.
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Jan 17, 2017 07:17am
Before this mom is executed. It will serve the nation if she is given a chance to speak to the nation and describe her reasoning to kill her daughter and at the same time a religious scholar should counter her argument under the
Sharia laws. Nation should know what is wrong.
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Jan 17, 2017 07:38am
One can very well understand the mental agony and grief to parents or brother of a girl who commits sexual crime. But Islam does not allow killing the girl or torturing her inhumanly.
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Jan 17, 2017 08:18am
@Babar yeah right. Like a 8-10 year old girl chooses a 50+ year old man
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Jan 17, 2017 08:20am
@Anon Justice is served faster with ATC. Civilian system is slow and easy to manipulate.
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Jan 17, 2017 09:41am
Sadly, these "honor" killings in a dishonored country will continue.
Education and jobs might help develop the thought process of the masses and keep them physically and mentally busy not to mention they might learn what "honor" really means.
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Jan 17, 2017 09:59am
"After Zeenat Bibi was set on fire in a low-income neighbourhood of Lahore, none of her relatives sought to claim her body, police said, leaving her husband's family to bury her charred remains in the dark in a graveyard near the city."
This literally brought tears in my eyes.
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Jan 17, 2017 05:25pm
Wish we actually knew as a nation how to live wirh honor. Sad what people can do to their children whwn their crime us simply to marry someone of their choice. Sad state of affairs.
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Jan 17, 2017 07:08pm
After Mumtaz Qadri this is another sensible act to save humanity from these brutal murders.
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Jan 17, 2017 07:41pm
First you all should understand the bad name from 3rd party? who 's this 3rd party? we depend on society to give us hand on times of emergency and not live for the society judgement.
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Jan 17, 2017 10:25pm
Kudos for the Judge and Pakistan's justice system. Mother got what she deserved. Brother should have been given the death sentence to since he was an equal partner in the crime. Let this be a lesson for other parents and brothers that you cannot kill some one because they married because of love
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Jan 17, 2017 10:39pm
What kind of a mother was she, and what kind of a society are we to produce such people? There is absolutely no honour in killing an innocent human being (that too one's own daughter), and it is a travesty to call it 'honour killing'.
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Jan 17, 2017 11:51pm
@Gorsi - Until and unless people are made to realize that no matter how strongly they feel about killing someone - they simply can not - they won't change. Implementing the law of the land is most important in that regard. Unfortunately, customarily, the law has not been used to help these victims - that is why people don;t even think twice about respecting the law of the land! It has to start somewhere and we should be glad it made a good start. Next mother, who realizes what can happen, will swallow her false pride rather easily - and if the law keeps up, people's attitude will automatically change - may be slowly, but it definitely will change. Think of this mother as a collateral damage!
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Jan 18, 2017 07:44am
@Gorsi Don't feel bad for the mother at all. She is evil as well as her son
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Jan 18, 2017 08:06am
@Anon This is terrorism. It is terrorism against women. The reason this was done was to make other women too afraid to exercise their right to marry whomever they wish, live in whatever manner they choose, and make decisions for themselves.
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Jan 18, 2017 08:21am
@Harris If this mother is indeed covering up for her animal of a son, then she deserves to die, because she has placed more value upon her animal son, than her pure and beautiful and precious daughter. The mother is a symptom of a cancer, like a tumour. She must be eradicated in the name of progress, and her animal son too. She also valued her animal son above her lovely daughter - which is a grave moral crime too as she chose to privilege hate and backward cultural norms over something so beautiful and simple as her daughter's love and happiness. When will Pakistanis value and treasure their daughters? Soon, I hope. Daughters should be encouraged to live freely, express themselves, empower themselves, and do anything they want by loving parents. Parents should understand their daughters are more valuable than sons, as daughters are more loyal and loving and more worthy of support than boys.
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Jan 18, 2017 08:31am
@El Cid You speak of the daughter as a piece of property. The mother does not own her daughter. That she birthed her does not give her the moral right to deny her happiness, or her love. You are part of the problem. You should look at yourself very carefully in the mirror and ask: "who taught me that women are property?" and "How can I change my backward religious and cultural beliefs?' In so doing, you will cease being part of the problem and become part of the solution. You will also be better equipped to help others be part of the solution. Write it out 100 times if you have to: "WOMEN ARE NOT PROPERTY." Thank you :)
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Jan 18, 2017 09:46am
Sorry for jumping into conclusion but financial independence to female is one of possible solution
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Jan 18, 2017 09:51am
tragic. more then the death sentence the mother needs mental health help. its our south asian culture of dehumanising women that must take the blame.
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Jan 18, 2017 09:56am
Honour killings and acid attacks do come under terrorism as it terrorize the society as a whole and the impact is not just on the victims but on the entire society.
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Jan 18, 2017 11:13am
This is serious concern.Time to open our minds,and spread awareness.
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Jan 18, 2017 11:50am
Pressure of the society would make a person do things unimaginable. The daughter died in pain and the mother would remain in pain till her death. What a misery
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