Pakistani murders sisters in latest ‘honor killings’: police

In March 2016, a tragic incident of “honor killing” occurred in the village of Noorshah, located in Sahiwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. Mohammad Asif, a man in his late twenties, shot dead his two sisters due to suspicions regarding their character and lifestyle. This heinous act was reportedly driven by his perception of protecting family honor.

Asif, who had previously murdered his mother about five years earlier and was subsequently pardoned by his family, fled the scene after committing the double homicide. The local police, led by officer Allah Ditta Bhatti, confirmed that the sisters died on the spot and that a manhunt was underway to apprehend Asif.

This incident took place just days after Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an Oscar for her documentary “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness,” which spotlighted the issue of honor killings in Pakistan. The documentary’s international acclaim brought renewed attention to the persistent and pervasive issue of honor killings in the country, prompting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to vow to eradicate this “evil.”

Despite amendments to Pakistan’s criminal code in 2005 aimed at preventing such crimes, the law’s loophole allowing family members to pardon the killers often undermines justice. The Sahiwal case highlights the ongoing struggle against deeply rooted cultural practices that condone violence in the name of honor, underscoring the need for more robust legal reforms and enforcement.

These brutal acts continue to draw national and international condemnation, pressing the Pakistani government and civil society to intensify efforts to protect women and uphold their rights.