KARACHI, Jan 22: Speakers at a meeting on Tuesday expressed the view that a multi-dimensional strategy was needed to counter the growing menace of honour killings (karo-kari).

Speaking at the meeting, organized by the Aurat Foundation for the decision-makers, activists and media persons to discuss the issue, they suggested that public opinion be built to change the social and cultural mindset of society.

They were of the view that presently effective steps were not being taken against honour killings.

They suggested that amendments be introduced and loopholes be plugged in the relevant laws through which culprits be punished.

They said although a large number of people, particularly women, were being killed in name of karo-kari, very few of these incidents were reported to the police due to social and cultural traditions.

Even the attitude of the police towards the killers was sympathetic as if they had done something noble, and no serious investigation is carried out.

When these case come up for hearing, a lenient view is taken and benefit of doubt goes to the murderers who say they had acted under grave provocation.

They suggested that the police be directed to be the complainant in such incidents and FIRs be registered for the crime of murder.

They said earlier the murder was a crime against the state but after the introduction of the Qisas and Diyat Ordinance, there had been a change and now murder had also become a crime against the individual, and many of the accused in the honour killing cases had allegedly benefited by it.

They suggested that a clear definition of “sudden and grave provocation” be made as a majority of the accused were given benefit of doubt or it was stated that they acted under sudden and grave provocation.

They also suggested that amendments be introduced in the laws, and honour killing be declared a crime punishable with death. The karo-kari be also made a non-bailable offence.

They also suggested that women judges be appointed in the high courts and the Supreme Court and that all such cases be heard either by women judges or if their was a division bench, one of the judges on the bench be a woman.

They also suggested that joint action committees be formed which should meet the chief justices of the high courts and the supreme court, the parliamentarians, and the police chiefs to sensitise them about the issue.

They also suggested that the laws, discriminatory towards women, be abolished and women-friendly laws be formulated.

They said that situation in the previous parliament was such that sometime back even a resolution against the honour killings could not be moved in the Upper House, after a girl who wanted divorce against her family’s wishes was killed by the men sent by her parents in the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s office in Lahore.

They suggested that the parliament should take a clear point of view on the issue.

They also hoped that under the recently announced electoral reforms, there would be at least 60 women members in the national assembly and hopefully they collectively would be successful if they formed a joint group on the issue regardless of their party affiliations.

Former Law Minister Iqbal Haider, former high court judge justice Shaiq Usmani, Ejaz Shafi, Raza Rabbani, Anis Haroon, Nuzhat Shirin, Aslam Brohi, and others also spoke.