ISLAMABAD : There are several flaws in the draft of the proposed bill on honour killing. It is not acceptable and movement will be launched if it is passed in its present shape.
Former chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and prominent HR activist Asma Jahangir said this while talking to PPI here on Friday. She accused that the government was not sincere in its tall claims on human rights, especially the women rights and is befooling the world community.
"President General Pervez Musharraf is enjoying absolute powers since Oct 12, 1999 and could enforce these laws with just one order if he was serious on the issue," Asma said and pointed out that the menace of honour killing continued to increase in the country, as 1,401 murders were committed in the name of honour killing during the last six years and the culprits were not apprehended.
The HR activist said the law of land, instead of safeguarding the lives and honours of women, provides protection to the criminals who kill their close family members in honour killing.
According to the present law the heirs of the victim could absolve the culprits. She said in most of the cases of honour killing culprits are close relatives of girls and get absolved by the heirs.
Earlier, rights activists staged a rally, demanding of the government to impose laws against honour killings, which claimed more than 4,000 lives of women since 1998.
The marchers, who also included victims of sexual violence, staged demonstration outside the Parliament building. The rally passed a resolution denouncing the government's lack of action and demanded immediate enactment of laws to protect rights of women.
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