PML-N to pass law against honour killings following Qandeel's murder, says Maryam
Reuters Published July 20, 2016
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz plans to pass long-delayed legislation against "honour killings" within weeks in the wake of the high-profile murder of outspoken social media star Qandeel Baloch, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday.
The bill will go before a parliamentary committee as early as Thursday, said Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is an increasingly influential member of her father's ruling party.
The government has faced mounting pressure to pass the law against murders carried out by people professing to be acting in defence of the honour of their family.
The law would remove a loophole that allows other family members to pardon a killer.
The brother of social media star Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in connection with her strangling death and told a news conference he was incensed by her often risque posts on social media.
Also read: Qandeel Baloch is dead because we hate women who don't conform
Some 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to "honour" that can involve eloping, fraternising with men or any other infraction against conservative values that govern women's modesty.
Maryam Nawaz said the government wanted to pass the law unanimously and had been negotiating with religious parties in parliament.
"We have finalised the draft law in the light of negotiations," she told Reuters in an interview.
"The final draft will be presented to a committee of joint session of parliament on July 21 for consideration and approval."
Maryam said once the parliamentary committee approved the bill, it would be presented for a vote in a "couple of weeks" before a joint session of parliament.
Know more: Isn't Qandeel Baloch's murder as 'un-Islamic' as Zeenat Bibi's?
A spokesman for Jamaat-i-Islami, one of the two major religious parties in parliament, said his party would not oppose the bill.
The country's other main religious political party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, could not be reached for comment but it has only a small number of seats in parliament.
Both religious parties have traditionally opposed legislation empowering women.
The upper house of parliament passed the bill in 2015 but it lapsed after the government failed to put it up for a vote in the lower house because it was preoccupied with legislation aimed at tackling security problems and economic reforms.
A senior government official told Reuters all major parties were now backing the bill and it was likely to be passed in a few weeks by a joint session of parliament.
"The prime minister is taking personal interest," added a second official and close aide to Sharif.
"You will see in coming days more will be done, big changes will be announced."
In a rare move, this week the government became a complainant in the police case against Qandeel's brother accused of her murder, designating it a crime against the state and thereby blocking her family from forgiving their son.
Right to forgive
Qandeel had long divided opinion with her social media photos and posts.
She was unapologetic about pushing the boundaries of acceptability for women and changing "the typical orthodox mindset" of her audience.
Many viewed her as a disgrace to cultural values while others hailed her as a "feminist icon".
She ran into political controversy last month after her "selfie" photographs with Mufti Qavi went viral, leading to him being fired from the Ruet-i-Hilal committee.
After her death, Mutfi Qavi told media that her murder should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy.
Qavi is being investigated for her murder along with Qandeel's two brothers.
Although government officials appeared confident of backing for the bill in parliament, it could still face resistance.
The influential Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam, warned that it would not support any law that removed the forgiveness loophole, even though the council considers honour killings a crime.
"Islamic law and the Quran say that the right to forgive or punish lies first and foremost with the victim's family," said council spokesman Inam Ullah.
"So if this bill is trying to completely take away that right from the family, then of course that is against Islamic teachings. The state cannot completely take away that right from the family."
The religious parties and the council hold significant influence over public opinion and the government fears a backlash if any law passes without their approval.
"This mentality — that you can get away with murder in the name of honour — it has to be done away with," said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose documentary on honour killings "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness" won an Oscar this year.
"I am hopeful that this law will pass but the change in mindset will talk so much longer... I think Qandeel Baloch's murder is the tipping point."
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'If people don't go to jail for honour killing, how will they know it's a crime?'
SANE MIND
Finally. Thank God.
Nasir Shah
Nawaz sharif run state affairs after watching television. Before Qandeel Baloch many women were killed. He never bothered to pay attention.
Harmony-1©
This 'long-delayed legislation' should have been passed long time ago. QB will be remembered for this that her death at lease achieved a decent law on 'honour' killings.
sana-1
Slowly but surely she is taking her father's place, welcome to the new PM of Pakistan.
Good decision pml-n. I'll vote for you in coming elections only because of this.
Taimoor Khan
Was it really a case of honor killing as people are making out to be? Media reports are mentioning the money issue between her and the brother.
Much needed legal reform, however in what capacity is mariam saying this? She is not a member of parliament or minister. She shouldnt be the one making policy statements.
Right to life and liberty has been given to our women by the State!
@The Truth Maryam or anyone else can say whatever but law will be passed by elected members of national assembly not Marryam herself. In what capacity trump wife and Obama wife did their speeches during presidential election and after election? I think criticism for the sake of criticism make no sense sometime.
Negotiating with religious parties?? How many more need to die? This law should have been passed in 1947? And we are still negotiating?
@Taimoor Khan What difference does the motive make, the killing is still unjustifiable. And the bill is a natural thing for the nation to do
Unshackle Pakistan
Killing is killing. Whether it's for honour or for dislike. It's violence against another person. The law for murder should be sufficient and if isn't then having another law isn't going to change much. Make the currently existing law work and whether it's honour or property dispute, the perpetrator gets punished.
This is a good outcome.
moe2
PML-N is now finding a niche issue to prop up its popularity. They said this a almost a year ago and there was no action. Now they see a media blitz on the issue and want to join in to get a free popularity ride. Typical politicians reactions for more popularity as usual.
I. Ahmed
Good initiative. However, in what capacity Maryam Nawaz is announcing this bill? Is she an elected MNA? A Senator? A gazetted advisor to the PM? This should have been announced by the PM or a democratically elected member of the parliament from PML-N and not daughter of the PM. If elected members do not have the skill or wherewithal to do this then Nawaz Sharif should declare himself a King and his daughter heir apparent before making these calls.
@Bilal sahib, please sit back and think. Sherif family is getting popularity out of it. Vote them if they bring growth over 5% and unemployment less than 5%. If they eradicate corruption and nepotism. Then they will deserve your vote.
Col. Majeed Alvi
Being a woman, Maryam is in better understand the pain of honor killings. This is good work.
Can we name this as "Qandeel Law"? A small ray of hope for women and minorities..
Three cheers for Maryam.It will be a good law for the women in Pakistan as they can show their talent in the way in which all women are doing in the world.
As you reported that "After her death, the cleric Abdul Qavi told media that her murder should serve as an example for others who tried to malign the clergy". He knows, newspapers know, media knows, police fully aware, what so called Peer's, Mullah's and bigger part of Mufti's and clergy associated men are doing with women. October 10, 2000 this same cleric Abdul Qavi was involved in Multan Zarina Shaheen (a yateem girls) kidnapping and police recovered this poor girl from this cleric house (news in today's "Jhang Newspaper) and this individual has guts to talk about "Sharia". And maybe there could be many more, are we pushing our women in stone age on the name of Islam or Sharia? Why such cleric's, Peer's etc etc still being allowed to walk in our streets. We must ask these questions to our self's.
Pure Pakistani
By The Way...What official capacity she has to pass on statements on Pakistan's law making?
Why is it so hard to pass a law like that I do not understand. Why can't the government be done with it quickly. We have more grave issues to deal with e.g. the foreign policy and the government is swinging from Qandeel Balochs to Ayaan Alis.
Dr.Asif
People will still murder in the name of honour, bill will not stop it.
@MK "We have finalised the draft law in the light of negotiations," she told Reuters in an interview. "The final draft will be presented to a committee of joint session of parliament on July 21 for consideration and approval." Maryam said once the parliamentary committee approved the bill, it would be presented for a vote in a "couple of weeks" before a joint session of parliament." I ask you again who is she to say about the draft law bills and its presentation? Is she a member of the committee over seeing the bill or member of parliament? Have you ever heard president obamas wife and trumps wife making policy statements?
Sanna Ejaz
Qandeel Baloch, by her death proving that she remained active for women rights. Here's the law would go up for passing.
Too little too late..
All of the comments are against the killer. While we condemn the act, the facts also have to be seen. The brother who murdered qandeel must have been through severe psychological punishment from the uneducated surroundings, people around them giving there family the pain through words and discussions of their sister. As this society is still very backward, a girl of such nature is never accepted and will never be accepted. Her acts also sparked many controversies which led to this tragedy. No matter what law you make, honor killing will be there if the girl crosses the thin red line in backward societies.
Philosopher (from Japan)
Didn't he commit the same promise to Shermin obaid after watching her Oscar winning movie???
Great initiative. I hope parliament approves it Asap.
Zarak
Good laws do not make a good society; only a good society can make good laws. -- Oscar Wilde
H Chaudhry
@The Truth Maryam Nawaz is an elected member of National Assembly for your information and in that capacity she is making statement.
Only Army can bring change in Pakistan. PMLN will fail in controlling honor killings.
syed Ali Raza
law cannot prevent crimes implementation of law prevent crime and it is no matter how many laws pass by NA.
Laws are for books only... we have best laws no implementation.
Hira
@Taimoor Khan probably is related to Money but the brother is using the word of Honour, as it would cushion the blow to his case. Saying he murdered her or her money won't show him to be a macho then, huh!
A typical naive public stunt. This is an insult to the elected members of Parliament. Nawaz Sharif did not find any one including himself fit to speak about this.
@Nasir Shah PK is a reactionary state and surely NS is not a visionary leader. I bet this is once again only a reaction to international condemnation. It has made international headlines, so did Malala and many other cases. It only in these cases PML and PPP do something or else they could care less. Nonetheless any new law will do nothing, they are more then happy to just go to jail.It is culturally embedded and this ideology has to change through education, modernization and tolerance.
Abdulla Hussain
Honour killing has consumed many innocent lives, why the government waited for so long to even talk about the vices of honour killings.
This is the only good news coming from Nawaz camp.
Good decision and should be done a long ago. I doubt Qandeel's murder was about honor killing. That guy had been using her money for many years without any honor?
Besides the enactment and promolgation of law on Honour Killing there is dire to educate and aware people from ignorance of law
'better late never!'
Asad Khan
@sana-1 I hope not. This is what is keeping us behind the rest of the world. We need rulers who know how to rule a country.
Gafoor
@I. Ahmed -"in what capacity Maryam Nawaz is announcing this bill?" She is the member of the ruling party and announcing the party decision. What wrong in it?
@Nasir Shah not true. this has been on the agenda ever since Sharmeen Chinoy's documentary
there is already a law that prohibits murder it is section 302 of pakistan penal code. now do you think her killer was thinking wait is there a law that specifically stops me killing her? the answer is No. what needs to be done is changing the society's perception of what it considers honorable. now i grant you it is too much to ask this of any elected government, they cant just waive their magic wand. but identifying the problem is the least they can do.
50 Shades of Khaki
@Nasir Shah It has been going on since decades - why only blame NS?
@Dr.Asif YEs Dr. sahib, but they will think twice and will not getaway with it.
Good luck, the bill wouldn't stop this honor killing at all. Education and swift judicial system will play a important role. Women should know their status and rights first.
@Abdulla Hussain Better late than never.
Riaz Uddin
Bettet late than never! Do it on priority bases. Further procrastination.would tantamount to injustice to women who are more than 50% of the total population of Pakistan. Hurry Up!
Murder is murder whether it's done for honour, theft, personal gain, hatred, etc. All those people who were or are involved in honour killing should charged and prosecuted accordingly.
If Pakistan's police agree to follow the law.
Zafar
@Bilal Laws should be made and passed on a proactive basis not reactive .... this gives the impression that the state was waiting for a murder to wake up from its slumber. I give no credit to the Nawaz government because this law should have passed a long time ago!! Anyway, better late then never!!
Ravi Vancouver
@Dr.Asif People will keep doing murder of women under pretext of saving honor. But if people known there is punishments for mirdering their own family member for honor then they will think twice and such incidents shall reduce to a great extent. At present they are fully confident even if they accept responsibility for murder their family members shall pardon them as per existing law and court shall release the murderer without any charge and dismiss the case , even if murder is very brutal or merciless.
@Abdulla Hussain stop complaining. This should have been done decades back. Atleast they are doing. Learn to appreciate.
SABZ
what about passing a bill on corrupt politicans..... or is that too close to home
Maryam Nawaz returns to Pakistan today to 'reorganise' PML-N