ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on
Law, Justice and Human Rights on Thursday approved the
draft of a bill against honour killings. The Criminal
Law (Amendment) Bill 2004, which deals with cases of
honour killings, was approved under the chairmanship
of Rai Mansab Ali Khan, a member of the National
Assembly, in Parliament House. The chairman remarked
that amendments were being proposed because of a spate
of honours killing and other crimes committed in the
name of ‘karo kari’ and ‘siyah kari.’ He said
loopholes in the existing legislation were preventing
honour killing prosecution from being conducted
properly. As a result, the accused often go unpunished
or inadequately punished. The bill aims to eliminate
procedural hiccups and increase punishment in
honour-related crimes. A killing committed in the name
of honour will be treated as premeditated murder under
the amended law. The chairman directed the secretary
of the Ministry of Law and Justice to incorporate
these amendments into the bill that will be presented
to the National Assembly for approval. The committee
meeting was attended by Minister for Law, Justice and
Human Rights Wasi Zafar, Minister for Parliamentary
Affairs Dr Sher Afgan, Minister of State for Defence
Zahid Hamid, MNAs Kashmala Tariq, Abdul Mujeeb
Pirzada, Muhammad Usman and Secretary for Law and
Justice (r) Mansoor Ahmed. staff report
