26/08/2026
"Honour Killing in Pakistan: Ending Double Standards and Upholding the Rule of Law"
The very acts and behaviours that are often used in Pakistani society to justify so-called “honour” killings of women—such as choosing a life partner without family approval, relationships outside socially accepted norms, seeking personal freedom, or allegedly bringing “dishonour” to the family—reveal a profound double standard when the same criteria are not applied equally to men.
If women were to judge men by such rigid standards and respond with violence, a very large proportion of Pakistani men could potentially face similar accusations.
However, the answer is neither to reverse this injustice nor to encourage violence against men; it is to reject honour killing altogether and establish one universal standard of dignity, freedom, accountability and the rule of law for both sexes.
The persistence of the problem is evident from the latest available data. According to reported figures, 132 honour-killing cases were recorded across Pakistan during the first six months of 2026 alone. The seriousness of the issue was also reflected in the Senate Human Rights Committee’s review of honour killings in June 2026, when stronger legal reforms were called for.
Moreover, a UN Women–Ministry of Human Rights consultation in June 2026 noted that 554 honour-killing cases had been processed and referred to relevant authorities in Sindh between January 2024 and April 2026. These figures likely represent only part of the problem because underreporting, social pressure and weaknesses in accountability continue to obscure the true scale of honour-based violence.
No concept of “honour” can ever legitimise murder; every person’s life, dignity and lawful right to make personal choices must be protected regardless of gender.
The way forward is to strictly enforce the law against honour killings and ensure that every case is independently investigated and prosecuted without family, tribal or political pressure. Perpetrators, instigators and facilitators must be held accountable, while men and women must be subject to the same legal and moral standards.
The government should provide effective protection, shelters and legal assistance to people facing threats, prevent illegal jirga decisions from overriding state law, strengthen data collection and prosecution, and address underlying disputes involving marriage, property and family control. Schools, religious leaders, media and communities should simultaneously promote tolerance, consent, education and respect for individual dignity.
Pakistan must replace the culture of “honour” violence with a culture of equal rights, equal accountability and the rule of law.
(Writes- Shahidullah Shahid)
