Bilawal criticizes govt for putting anti-honour killing laws on back burner

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday urged the PML-N government to ‘shun hypocrisy and immediately pass anti-Honour Killings Laws’ (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014, which he said was drafted and tabled by the PPP in Senate.

“There is no honour in killing a human,”  said Bilawal in a statement issued by the PPP, adding that all the killings in the name of honour should be declared a heinous and unpardonable crime to save the victims of horrible custom, which has nothing to do with our civilization or history.

The PPP chief said hundreds of women are butchered in the name of honour across the country and their murderers walk away scot-free in the absence of tougher laws, which he added could hold them accountable and award exemplary punishment.

“Honour killing has been used as Sword of Damocles against the womenfolk in some parts of our society where women live under constant fear,” he said.

Bilawal said PPP legislators put hard-work in drafting the anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014 and finally were able to pass it through the Senate but the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has put it on the back burner in the National Assembly.

“Holding the Bill in pending for one long year by the PML-N is tantamount to promotion of honour killing,” he said and urged the political parties and the civil society to mount pressure on the federal government to end hypocrisy and complete the legislation initiated by the PPP.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari went on to say that this was a dream of his mother Benazir Bhutto to provide equal opportunities and protection to women and adoption of anti-Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014 will be a landmark achievement to realize this dream.

He also directed the PPP Parliamentary Party in the National Assembly to start lobbying in the house for smooth-sailing of the bill and hold dialogues in this regard with other parties in the National Assembly.