April 23, 2025
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
A man in Okara was arrested in connection with the brutal murder of his wife over suspicions of infidelity. The horrific honour based killing took place in the area of Renala Khurd, district Okara.
Speaking to Voicepk,the Renala Saddar Police said that the accused identified as Shakil, had murdered his wife in a rather brutal manner. They said that he had slit the throat of his 27-year-old wife, Ammara, in their house, after there were accusations of her alleged affair. The couple had been married for 10 years.
The police swiftly registered a murder case against Shakil, based on a complaint filed by the victim’s sister, Rabia Bibi. Acting on the directives of District Police Officer (DPO) Okara Rashid Hidayat, investigators apprehended the suspect within a hour and recovered the murder weapon from his possession.
Shakil reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, admitting that he killed his wife due to suspicions of her “illicit relations.”
In an official statement, the Okara District Police Officer (DPO) Rashid Hidayat strongly condemned the killing and assured that the accused would face strict legal consequences.
“The accused will be prosecuted according to the law, and we will ensure that justice is served for the victim,” said the DPO assuring a strong prosecution. He said that the police were committed to eliminating honour-based violence and protecting the rights of women.
At the same time, forensic teams have managed to collect evidence from the crime scene, while legal proceedings are underway.
Meanwhile locals have expressed shock over the incident, calling for stricter measures against such brutal acts. The victim’s family has demanded maximum punishment for the accused, highlighting the rising cases of so-called ‘honour killings’ in rural areas.
A grave concern
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), honour-based killings remain a grave concern in Pakistan, with Sindh and Punjab reporting alarmingly high numbers. The data reveals a disturbing trend. In 2024 (January to November), 346 people fell victim to such crimes, where the accused was motivated by the idea of ‘lost honour’, with the blame being on the victim.
In 2023, there were 490 reported “honour” killings. In 2022, the number stood at 590.
The Honour Based Violence Network claims that there are 5,000 honour killings internationally per year. The network estimates that 1000 honour killings occur in Pakistan and India each year but many are not reported in media and law enforcement agencies in both countries.
These statistics underscore the need for urgent attention and action to address this grave human rights issue.
Recent incidents
Meanwhile, the incidence of honour based killings is upsetting as one can see frequent cases emerging from urban cities to more remote areas of the country.
According to police, a young man from Maniyar village was shot dead after he entered a house. The head of the household saw him and opened fire, killing him on the spot. During the firing, the homeowner’s brother was also fatally wounded, succumbing to his injuries in the hospital. The incident had occurred in the Najigram area of Barikot tehsil, Swat. According to a resident of the area, the deceased was allegedly involved in an illicit relationship with a woman from the household.
Legislation
Pakistan took its first legislative step against honour killings in 2004, when the crime was formally defined under Section 299 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). A more significant reform came in 2016 after the high-profile murder of social media star Qandeel Baloch by her brother — a case that shocked the nation and drew international condemnation.
That year, the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences in the Name or Pretext of Honour) Act 2016 was enacted to close a major legal loophole: under the compoundable nature of murder (Section 302 of the PPC), families could forgive the perpetrator — often a son, brother, or husband — effectively allowing them to walk free.
“The 2016 amendment addressed this issue by introducing Section 311, which classifies such acts as fasad fil arz — offences that disturb public order,” Advocate High Court Shabbir Hussain told Voicepk. “Once this section is applied, the state may assume the role of complainant, rendering the offence non-compoundable. This means that even if the victim’s family forgives the perpetrator, the case must continue and punishment cannot be waived.”
Under this legal framework, perpetrators of ‘honour’ killings can face life imprisonment under Section 311. Crucially, the more lenient sentence permitted under Section 302(c) does not apply when Section 311 is invoked.
Yet despite these critical legislative advances, legal experts note that the implementation of reforms remains hampered by outdated procedural laws — many inherited from the colonial-era Penal Code of 1860.