Another murder in broad day light. This time a three-month pregnant woman stoned to death in the premises of Lahore High Court. Looking for ways to get relief for murderers — file the murder as ‘honour killing’ and the law, law enforcing agencies, justice system and media will be lined to support the murderers. This is what’s happening in Pakistan since 1980s wherein murderers involved in so-called ‘honour killing’ go scot-free – the issue is settled by exchanging money or girl’s blood relatives forgive the murderer who happens to be girl’s father, brother or cousin. Once the issue is settled against money or a simple forgiveness, the court case is dismissed and the file is closed.
It’s the term ‘honour killing’ which does all this the magic — we need to get away with these distractions devised to help the aggressors. A murder is a murder, simple as that — regardless of what girl’s family thinks about the murder. State should not behave as ostrich but come forward and fulfill its responsibilities. To start with the ‘First Information Report’ (FIR) entries, all the murder related clauses shall be mentioned in the FIR to let investigation and later the court proceedings to move on these lines. At the same time media, especially Urdu media, shall stop using the term ‘honour killing’ as there is no honour in killing a human being. Media shall stop portraying the victim as legitimate target and the murderers as legal claimants on her life. Presently most regrettable is Urdu media’s role which always stands with the aggressor by justifying the murder as ‘honour killing’. By doing so they set the guidelines for police, lawyers, judges and general public which way to go.
One would only wish to see the light after the dark which engulfed the whole country during Zia’s era. Presently, it’s only a wish as Zia is still leading the Pakistan from hell.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia