Balochistan PA condemns Degari honour killings
The session, chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, began 45 minutes late and opened with Fatiha for the martyrs of recent terrorist attacks and fallen security personnel in the province.
The joint resolution, presented by MPA Ghazala Gola and supported by other members, condemned the killing of unarmed individuals in the name of honor and stated that no person has the right to act as judge, jury, and executioner. 'Justice is the sole responsibility of the state,' read the text, urging the government to ensure the accused receive exemplary punishment.
Women lawmakers, including Shahida Rauf, Mena Majeed, and Farah Azeem Shah, delivered powerful speeches condemning the Degari incident, describing it as a societal failure and a throwback to 'centuries of backwardness.' Mena Majeed said, 'Women around the world are reaching the moon, while women in Balochistan are being murdered in the name of honor.'
Rauf demanded strict action and legislative reforms, calling for the formation of a joint government-opposition committee to oversee the investigation. She also questioned the role of traditional jirgas, suggesting they be redirected toward positive societal contributions rather than reinforcing outdated customs.
Farah Azeem Shah criticised the double standards in the justice system, emphasising that 'honor does not mean taking a woman's life, but protecting her dignity.'
Religious leader Hidayat-ur-Rehman, while condemning the killings, warned against adopting what he described as a "Western mindset" and stressed the need for balance, saying, 'No one has the right to kill in the name of honor, but no one should be allowed to violate our cultural and religious values either.'
The House acknowledged that while laws against honor killings exist, implementation remains weak and societal mindset change is necessary. The resolution reaffirmed that such crimes have no link to religion, tradition, or morality and urged urgent action.
The session was adjourned until 3:00 PM on July 25, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Saif-led KP team arrives in Beijing
PESHAWAR: A 12-member Pakistani delegation led by Advisor to KP CM on Information, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, arrived in Beijing on Sunday following visits to Urumqi and Kashgar. The delegation comprises prominent religious scholars, academics, and political figures. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the group with a warm welcome. During their stay in Beijing, the delegation visited China's first official mosque and held a detailed meeting with the leadership of the Islamic Association of China, including the Chairman and Vice Chairman. The delegation was briefed on the current state of Islamic affairs in China. Officials shared that there are approximately 35,000 mosques, 55,000 imams, and more than a dozen active Islamic centers across the country. Beijing alone hosts 72 mosques. Additionally, the Islamic Association operates eight sub-divisions nationwide and organizes various national-level religious competitions. The briefing also highlighted the availability of Quran and Hadith translations in the Chinese language. It was noted that 10,000 Chinese Muslims performed Hajj this year, and several students are currently pursuing religious education at Al-Azhar University in Egypt. Barrister Dr. Saif expressed gratitude on behalf of Pakistan and termed the visits to Urumqi, Kashgar, and Beijing highly productive. Other delegation members included Mufti Zubair Ashraf Usmani (Vice President, Darul Uloom Karachi), Maulana Abdul Qudoos Muhammadi (Spokesperson, Wifaq-ul-Madaris), Mufti Anwar Shah (Head, Jamia Ahsanul Uloom, Karachi), Haji Muhammad Ibrar (Tablighi Jamaat), Maulana Muhammad Ahmad (Darul Uloom Haqqania) and Syed Shah Faisal (Sadat Movement). The delegation invited Chinese Islamic leaders to visit Pakistan and offered free education, accommodation, and essential facilities for Chinese students in Pakistani religious institutions. They emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral religious and academic ties and acknowledged the efforts of Israr Madani and the International Research Council for Religious Affairs in facilitating this initiative. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Minister for Religious Affairs Sahibzada Adnan Qadri and Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah praised the visit as a significant step in Pakistan-China relations. Syed Usama Ajmal (Chairman, Pakistan Peace Council) and Syed Shah Faisal also expressed their appreciation to the Chinese government and Islamic Association. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq presented copies of the 'Paigham-e-Pakistan' document to Chinese counterparts, highlighting its message of peace and unity. The Chinese hosts also arranged visits for the delegation to the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and other key historical and cultural sites. The visit concluded with an exchange of souvenirs, marking a meaningful step towards enhanced religious, educational, and cultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Iran executes two members of opposition group
DUBAI: Iran executed two members of the banned Mujahideen-e-Khalq group for attacking civilian infrastructure with homemade projectiles, the judiciary news outlet Mizan said on Sunday, amid criticism from Amnesty International over a 'grossly unfair' trial. Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo, identified as 'operational elements' of the MEK, were sentenced to death in September 2024 - a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court, which denied their request for a retrial, Mizan said. 'The terrorists, in coordination with MEK leaders, had ... built launchers and hand-held mortars in line with the group's goals, fired projectiles heedlessly at citizens, homes, service and administrative facilities, educational and charity centres,' the report said. Maryam Rajavi, who leads the National Council of Resistance of Iran of which the MEK is the main force, paid tribute to the pair. 'Honour to these steadfast Mojahedin who, after three years of unwavering resistance under torture, pressure, and threats, fulfilled their solemn pledge to God and the people with pride and dignity.' The defendants were indicted with 'moharebeh' - an Islamic term meaning waging war against God - destroying public property and 'membership in a terrorist organisation with the aim of disrupting national security.' Amnesty International said that Ehsani-Eslamloo and Hassani were arrested in 2022 and maintained their innocence during a trial which the rights group called 'grossly unfair and marred by allegations of torture and forced confessions.' 'According to informed sources, agents interrogated them without lawyers present and subjected them to torture and other ill-treatment, including beatings and prolonged solitary confinement, to extract self-incriminating statements,' it said in January. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the number of people executed in Iran rose to at least 901 in 2024, the highest number since 2015. The MEK, known in English as People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, was a powerful leftist-Islamist group that staged bombing campaigns against the shah's government and US targets in the 1970s but ultimately fell out with the other factions of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since then, the MEK has opposed the Islamic Republic and its leadership in exile has been Paris-based. The group was listed as a terrorist organisation by the US and the European Union until 2012.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Thousands rally in Malaysia to call for PM Anwar's resignation
Thousands of people rallied in the Malaysian capital on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as public discontent grows over rising living costs and allegations of failing to deliver promised reforms. Protesters - mostly wearing black t-shirts and bandannas carrying the slogan "Turun Anwar", or "Step Down Anwar" - marched through the heart of Kuala Lumpur, before converging in the city's Independence Square to hear speeches by top opposition leaders. Police estimated at least 18,000 were in attendance. Anwar, who campaigned on a reformist platform before taking office in November 2022, has faced criticism over measures aimed at boosting government revenue, including an expanded sales and services tax and subsidy adjustments that some fear could lead to a spike in consumer prices. The premier this week announced a cash handout, increased aid for poor households and a pledge to lower fuel prices, in a bid to quell worries over rising costs. Protester Nur Shahirah Leman, 23, a member of an Islamic students' group, said she was worried that new taxes as well as higher electricity tariffs imposed on large businesses would eventually be passed down to consumers. "These taxes are levied on manufacturers, so it would automatically affect the prices of food," she said. Anwar has also faced claims of judicial interference and doubts over his commitment to anti-corruption efforts, after prosecutors dropped graft charges against several figures allied to the government and following a recent delay in the appointment of the country's top judges. Anwar has repeatedly denied interfering in the courts. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who turned 100 this month, joined the rally and accused Anwar of misusing his position to prosecute political rivals, charges the premier has previously rejected. "Those who are innocent are charged, those who have done wrong are let go," Mahathir told the crowd. Mahathir and Anwar, his former protégé-turned-rival, have been locked in an intense feud that has dominated Malaysian politics for nearly three decades. The pair mended fences to oust the long-ruling Barisan Nasional government in 2018, but their coalition collapsed in less than two years amid infighting.
