Failing nation and the quest of gender equity and equality on the name of honor killing

Pakistan ranks 145th out of 146 countries on the World Economic Forum's 2022 Global Gender Gap Index, and 161st out of 191 countries on the Human Development Report's 2022 Gender Inequality Index. This is a very alarming number and situation in term of ensuring gender equity and equality is getting worst day by day. Now in 21st century the country is way behind in achieving any goal related to gender equality or equity. There is no such woman belonging to any class in this country, is free from any kind violence. The recent incident in Toba Tek Singh where brother killed his sister in the presence of many family members by pressing her throat on the name of honor killing is not less than a nightmare and worst example of man-made violence and patriarchy.

This incident happened in holy month of Ramadan which again raised biggest question and our teaching and preaching on tolerance. Not a single women in this country is free from violence. It’s not only the rural area but we have number of cases in urban areas such as the case of Noor and Sarah who were brutally murdered by their men in Islamabad city. The question is that patriarchy is deeply entrenched in this society and even the people who are educated and uneducated are fully infected from this virus at all levels. The situation in this country will be dismayed if the emergency is not imposed to deal with the issues of gender equality/equity.

There is no such place in this country which is safe for women. If the public and private places of this country are that much suffocated with patriarchy, than how the women of this country can breathe at any level. Though the cases in are on the rise in Punjab and Sindh but the situation for women is not ideal in KP, GB, Balochistan and AJK as well.

There is long list of reported cases but there is also a long list of unreported cases due to unwillingness of women for sharing the details. As woman who is living in such haunting environment do feel fear to share the information. According to HRCP report in year 2020, 90 % women experienced domestic violence at the time of COVID 19 and which was highly alarming. The number was also high side during the time of floods in 2022. According to SSDO report, in year 2023 10,201 cases reported related to violence against women which was 16 percent increase from the cases reported in year 2022. The number of listed reported is alarming so one can imagine about the number of unlisted cases.

The cases on the name of honor killing is the black mark on the whole society. It is actually linked with ferocious patriarchal system and highest level of brutality and lack of education and exposure at all levels. This norm can only be eradicated and or cut off by imposing the emergency for the cases related to honor killing. Educating such illicit minds is going to be a transformative step who just take law in hand and kill their daughters, sisters and women on the name of honor.

For gender just society in Pakistan, we demand implementation of pro women legislation, announcements of emergency for gender just society, strict punishments for the people who are taking law in the hands and violating women rights and harassing women at workplace, homes, streets, town and cities. Time has come that any kind of violence must be stopped by women by empowering them and by educating people both at public and private places.