‘No honour in honour killings’ says Hague

THE GOVERNMENT has condemned the murder of a pregnant woman who was stoned to death by her own family in Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was “appalled” by the killing of Farzana Parveen and called on the Pakistani authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

Nearly 20 members of Ms Parveen’s family attacked her and her husband with sticks and bricks in broad daylight before a crowd of onlookers in front of the High Court of Lahore, police said.

The 25-year-old, who had married Mohammad Iqbal in opposition to her family, was the victim of a so-called honour killing.

Mr Hague said he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident “both for the appalling manner of her death, and the unspeakable cruelty and injustice of murdering a woman for exercising her basic right to choose who to love and marry”.

He said: “There is absolutely no honour in honour killings and I urge the government of Pakistan to do all in its power to eradicate this barbaric practice .

“I call on the Pakistani authorities to investigate this atrocious murder fully and bring those responsible to justice.

“And I hope this will spark a wider debate about how to confront and end the intolerable culture of violence against women in many parts of the world.”