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'Honour Killings' in Pakistan and Compliance of ... - Aurat Foundation

'Honour Killings' in Pakistan and Compliance of ... - Aurat Foundation

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This table compares the media reports with the registered FIRs.<br />

Comparison is only available from 2008. This is sufficient as it br<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

forward some <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g observations.<br />

Nowshera<br />

The ma<strong>in</strong> reason Nowshera was identified as a sample district was due to<br />

its low reported <strong>in</strong>cidence <strong>of</strong> the crime, while reports from residents note<br />

a high number <strong>of</strong> honour kill<strong>in</strong>gs. This is also evident from the table. As<br />

mentioned earlier, the police deny a s<strong>in</strong>gle case <strong>of</strong> honour kill<strong>in</strong>g ever<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g registered. Media reports too reflect a low rate <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>cidents.<br />

Interviews conducted <strong>in</strong> the area provided some <strong>in</strong>sights on the issue.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to one <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>terviewees, women ARE be<strong>in</strong>g killed <strong>in</strong> the<br />

name <strong>of</strong> honour but are buried silently <strong>and</strong> the matter is kept hidden 46 .<br />

A meet<strong>in</strong>g was held with DPO Nowshera, Mr. Nisar Tanoli. In the very<br />

little time provided, he just expressed a few th<strong>in</strong>gs. He was totally<br />

unaware <strong>of</strong> the 2004 law <strong>and</strong> amendments to the law. The most notable<br />

comment was, “If you come to know that your wife is <strong>in</strong>volved with<br />

someone, what will be your reaction, won’t you kill her”<br />

Police (Inspector, Sub Inspector <strong>and</strong> Investigation Officer) <strong>and</strong> the<br />

members <strong>of</strong> the Masalihati Anjuman (<strong>of</strong>ficially constituted bodies for<br />

resolv<strong>in</strong>g disputes outside courts) <strong>of</strong> Union Council Akora Khattak, stated<br />

that very <strong>of</strong>ten bodies <strong>of</strong> women are discovered <strong>in</strong> the river. Most <strong>of</strong> them<br />

are murdered by gunfire. The police stated that <strong>in</strong> such cases they take the<br />

dead body <strong>in</strong> their custody <strong>and</strong> file the case as unknown dead body.<br />

Investigations are rarely followed through without any <strong>in</strong>terest shown<br />

from any family or community member to pursue the case.<br />

46 Interview conducted with Azhar Ali Khan, Advocate, Noor Education Trust<br />

43

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