Honour killings in Pakistan: Court demands urgent action against growing violence
File photo In a strongly worded ruling, Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro said honour killings — a form of violence often committed under the guise of defending family honour — were rising at an alarming rate and must be stopped before they lead to "total anarchy."
A Pakistani court has raised serious alarm over the growing number of honour killings in the country, calling the practice "uncivilised, barbaric, and abominable".
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has urged the state to take immediate and firm action against those responsible, warning that failure to act could push society towards chaos.
In a strongly worded ruling, Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro said honour killings — a form of violence often committed under the guise of defending family honour — were rising at an alarming rate and must be stopped before they lead to "total anarchy."
The judge said the killing of women based on suspicion or false accusations has stained society, especially as many victims are denied the chance to defend themselves.
The SHC made these observations while rejecting the appeal of Ghulam Mustafa, who had been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife in the name of honour in Kashmore in April 2023.
The court not only upheld his life sentence but also added 14 years under Section 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), classifying the offence as ''Fasad fil Arz'' —a concept in Islamic law referring to acts that spread corruption or mischief in society. The court highlighted that honour killings are often based on flimsy allegations, particularly accusations of illicit relationships, and are frequently used to settle personal disputes or family feuds.
'In many cases, women are killed to target a rival man, and then a local jirga or community meeting gives a pardon to the killer under the excuse of defending family honour,' the judge noted.
Justice Bhanbhro stressed that Islamic teachings do not support such killings. 'No school of Islamic thought allows citizens to take the law into their own hands,' he said, adding that the state must protect every citizen's life and liberty and to punish those who violate the law. Pakistan continues to face a significant challenge in curbing honour-based violence.
Despite the passage of stricter laws in recent years, including the 2016 Criminal Law (Amendment) Act aimed at closing legal loopholes, implementation has been weak. Many cases go unreported, and social pressures often prevent victims' families from seeking justice.
Activists say that honour killings are deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions and a lack of legal accountability. 'Until communities stop seeing honour as something that justifies murder, and until the legal system ensures real punishment, these crimes will continue,' said a Karachi-based human rights advocate.
The court emphasised that karo-kari — the local term for honour killings—is not just a cultural issue but a criminal offence. Importantly, the SHC ruled that such cases cannot be settled or pardoned by the family of the victim, particularly when they fall under the category of
''Fasad fil Arz''.
'These crimes affect not only individuals but the entire society,' the court stated.
The SHC ruling is seen as a major step in acknowledging the seriousness of honour-based violence and pushing for stronger enforcement of laws. It also serves as a reminder of the broader social and legal challenges Pakistan faces in protecting vulnerable communities, especially women.
With courts taking a firmer stance, many hope this could signal a turning point. But without consistent action from law enforcement, lawmakers, and community leaders, the path to eliminating honour killings remains long and uncertain.
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Daily Maverick
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At a press conference held on Thursday at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, the delegation condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and pointed a firm finger at Pakistan. Image: Suppplied. An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation visiting South Africa this week made it clear that India will no longer remain silent in the face of terrorism. At a press conference held on Thursday at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, the delegation condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and pointed a firm finger at Pakistan. 'Pakistan doesn't send delegations, it sends terrorists,' a senior member of the delegation said. 'The fact that the terrorists were draped in Pakistani flags tells us clearly where the attack came from. These attackers were celebrated in Pakistan. It's no longer business as usual. We want the world to know — especially our friends in South Africa — that we will respond to every act of terror with resolve.' Sifiso Mahlangu, Editor of The Star sat with the leader of the all-party parliamentary delegation from India, NCP (SCP) MP Ms Supriya Sule, to discuss the current state of relations between India and Pakistan. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The visit comes in the aftermath of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people lost their lives in what Indian officials have described as a cross-border terror assault. The Indian delegation's mission in South Africa is part of a global campaign to rally international support against terrorism and expose what they claim is Pakistan's continued involvement in sponsoring it. The team, led by NCP MP Supriya Sule, is part of one of seven Indian parliamentary groups touring 33 capitals around the world. The South Africa leg of their trip took place from May 27 to 29 and included meetings with key political figures, civil society, and Indian diaspora members. South African Political Support. The delegation received strong backing from South African political leaders, particularly from the African National Congress (ANC), which is part of the ruling Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who led the ANC side during a formal meeting, expressed solidarity with India and condemned terrorism in all forms. 'This meeting highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight against terrorism,' Mbalula posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). 'The ANC stands with the people of India during this difficult time.' Other ANC leaders in attendance included Deputy Ministers of International Relations Alvin Botes and Thandi Moraka, ANC Youth League Secretary-General Mntuwoxolo Ngudle, and Parliament's Trade Committee Chair Mzwandile Masina. The delegation also held discussions with South Africa's second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), in Cape Town. DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen echoed support for India's stance against cross-border terrorism and expressed condolences to the victims of the Pahalgam attack. In Pretoria, the Indian delegation met with Kenneth Morolong, Deputy Minister in the Presidency. Morolong acknowledged the Indian concerns and promised to raise them with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Outreach to the Community Tuesday, the delegation addressed more than 350 members of the Indian diaspora and local South Africans of Indian origin in Johannesburg. They described Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism and urged the community to support India's efforts to counter global terror threats. Congress MP Manish Tewari, part of the visiting team, said during the event, 'Pakistan has been behaving like a rogue state.' The delegation also visited Constitution Hill, where both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were once imprisoned. 'This site is a powerful reminder of our nations' shared history of resistance and resilience,' said Tewari. The group paid tribute at the Gandhi statue and viewed the Mandela-Gandhi Exhibition, inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a previous visit. A Broader Mission Besides Sule and Tewari, the delegation includes leaders from multiple Indian parties: BJP MPs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur, and V. Muraleedharan; Congress leader Anand Sharma; TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu; AAP MP Vikramjeet Singh Sahney; and former Indian ambassador Syed Akbaruddin. India's outreach comes after *Operation Sindoor* on May 7, where Indian forces carried out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan responded with attempted attacks on Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10, which India repelled strongly. From South Africa, the Indian delegation will continue its diplomatic tour with upcoming visits to Ethiopia and Egypt.
