Islamabad, February 16 – Honour killings continue to be a serious human rights issue in Pakistan, as the number of reported incidents across the country remains high while the rate of convictions is low, a report has stated.
A report in The Express Tribune Magazine stated, "Every now and then, some isolated case of honour killings makes its way to the media. However, beyond individual tragedies lies a bleak national picture, where family forgiveness, judicial delays, and weaknesses in law enforcement allow innocent people to continue being killed in the name of honour."
A recent report by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), supported by official records and international studies, showcased that weak investigation, judicial delays, and social pressure continue to obstruct the path to justice despite the existence of laws.
The highest number of honour killing cases were reported in the province of Punjab, which reported 225 incidents and only two convictions. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 134 honour killings, which secured only two convictions. Sindh also documented incidents of honour killing, however, there was no conviction. Balochistan reported 32 honour killings and secured only one conviction. The data highlights a gap between the number of lives lost and the delivery of justice.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, social activist Imran Takkar, who works on women's rights, stated that women accounted for 90 per cent of honour killing victims. "Women are already considered a weak and oppressed segment of society, and families often withdraw in such cases. If the police builds stronger cases, investigations are conducted in an improved manner, and prosecution plays its role, harsher punishments are possible," Takkar said in the report.
Senior advocate Shabbir Hussain Gigyani stressed that poor police investigation and weak case building remained key obstacles to delivering justice in honour killing cases, despite the presence of laws and amendments. "Police often make close relatives of the victim complainants and witnesses, who later reach compromises with the accused. Witnesses then retract statements before trial, leading to acquittals in about 80 per cent of cases," Gigyani said in the report.
SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas stated that the extremely low conviction rate demonstrates that the existing system in Pakistan has not been able to provide effective protection and timely justice to victims. Abbas stressed that immediate reforms are necessary to strengthen police investigations, improve legal procedures, and ensure speedy trials.
The report in The Express Tribune magazine added further: "Rooted in deeply entrenched customs, the practice of honour killings weaponizes fear to violently silence those challenging social boundaries for good. Therefore, in the absence of strict law enforcement, victims' deaths continue to be rationalized as moral correction, allowing accountability to remain elusive."
