Honor Killing
MARDAN: In a tragic incident, a female school teacher in Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was brutally killed in the name of “honour.”
The 22-year-old woman, who had entered into a free-will marriage, was dragged out of a car and murdered in the Tazagram area of Mardan district.
According to the police, the school teacher was targeted for honor killing, nine months after her court marriage.
As the investigation commenced, evidence from the crime scene was collected, and the woman’s body was sent to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.
However, the perpetrators managed to flee the scene and are currently at large, posing a challenge to law enforcement authorities.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy that unfolded in Vehari on June 4, where two sisters, also involved in free-will marriages, fell victim to honor killings.
The sisters had married men of their choice against their family’s wishes and were subsequently brought back home following a decision made by a local “Panchayat.”
Reportedly, the sisters were mercilessly killed by their own father, brother, and uncle within the jurisdiction of the Machiwal police station.
Despite the suspects being on the run, law enforcement officials have assured the public of their imminent arrest, with specialized teams being formed to track them down.
These incidents shed light on the persisting issue of honor-based violence prevalent in certain regions, where individuals, particularly women, face dire consequences for exercising their right to choose their life partners.
Such barbaric acts not only violate fundamental human rights but also underscore the urgent need for societal and legal reforms to combat the menace of honor killings and ensure justice for the victims and their families.
