Pakistan passes long-awaited anti-honour killing legislation

In Pakistan, Parliament passed two important bills, one seeking to curb murders in the name of honour and the other to punish rapists by use of modern technology of DNA testing in probes involving rape cases. Under the existing laws, a close relative murdered a woman in the name of honour and was promptly pardoned by another close family member. Thus the murderer would walk away literally without any punishment. The legislation passed by the Joint session yesterday makes 25 years jail mandatory in case of honour killings even if the murderer has been pardoned by other close family members. 

Both the bills, initially moved by former Senator Sughra Imam, were passed unanimously by the Senate sometime back and subsequently moved in the Joint Sitting of the Parliament by

Senator Farhatullah Babar



on the expiry of Imam's term in the Senate.According to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, nearly 1,100 women were killed by relatives in Pakistan last year in such killings, while many more cases go unreported.

About the Anti Rape Bill, Senator Farhatullah Babar said that a recent study had shown that conviction in rape cases was a mere 2 per cent which means that 98 per cent rapists potentially got scot-free.The is largely because DNA test is not compulsory in rape case under the existing law. The legislation passed makes DNA test mandatory in investigations as part of the procedure. Through another amendment enhanced punishment has been provided for rape in police stations and rape of minors and mentally handicapped.Thus sex workers also get protection of the law against rape.