On Oct. 26, Pakistani lawmakers took a significant step in protecting the rights of women when the lower house of Pakistan’s Parliament passed legislation that would recommend imprisonment of seven years to life for honor killings, and the death penalty in extreme cases.

In addition, coercion of a woman into a marriage without her consent would be punishable by 10 years. The bill, which was backed by President Pervez Musharraf, must still be approved by the Senate in order to become law.

Honor killings have victimized women who have either stepped out of traditional or religious norms or challenged the current social hierarchy. In addition, honor killings have also been resorted to in cases of personal vendetta, land ownership conflicts, etc. In the last year alone, 1,262 women were the victims of honor killings in Pakistan. Such murders are often not reported. Men are sometimes also victims of killings in the name of honor, but the practice focuses overwhelmingly on women.

Some human-rights organizations have, however, criticized this bill claiming that the bill doesn't include penalties for a number of other religious and social traditions which discriminate against women. Nor does the bill provide for compensation to the victim's family. And yet, other groups opine that this is a first significant step by the Pakistani government and subsequent efforts are necessary to further consolidate protection for women.

Others, while welcoming this bill, have argued that an awareness campaign highlighting the inhumanity of the practice of honor killing is necessary to make this bill effective. In addition, the government must ensure that the guilty do not get away either owing to their access to power, or through bribes, or through the help of some tribal institutions that claim that honor killings are justified.

While the passing of this bill by the lower house is certainly a major breakthrough for women’s rights, its passing in the Senate and consequent implementation of this law by various administrative bodies will be important in establishment of women’s rights in Pakistan.

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Honor Killing: No 'crime of passion'