KARACHI, Dec 3: Honour killings, such as Karo-kari, Swara, etc., are socio-cultural traditions which have nothing to do with religion. They must be condemned and steps should be taken to wipe out such traditions from society.

These views were expressed by speakers on the first day of a three-day consultation organized by the National Commission of the Status of Women. The aim of the event is to record views of people representing a cross section of the society on the Qisas and Diyat Ordinance.

The commission had already organized first of the series of consultations in Punjab, whereas it has planned next events in Balochistan and the NWFP. Ulema, parliamentarians, officials, experts and intellectuals have been participating in the events.

The commission would prepare a report on the basis of the recorded views for further discussion and review by the commission. The commission would also share the views various organizations and knowledgeable individuals before finalizing its recommendations to be put forward to the government.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed said that the role of Pakistan’s legislature, judiciary and executive did not appear to be ideal in the past. However, a change is in sight for quite some timeand things would improve soon, he added.

He said that Karo-kari, Swara, Siyahkari, etc. had nothing to do with Islam. Rather, he deplored, such customs had been given the garb of religious obligation by vested interests for personal gains.

He pointed out that in most cases, a victim to such hateful crime appeared to be member of a poor family.

Maulana Asadullah Bhutto observed that the issue and questions tabled for consultation seemed to be reflecting one-sided view. He suggested that the spectrum of the debate should be broadened so that views of all the sections of the society could be accommodated in the research.

Maulana Abdul Rauf, supporting the Ordinance, suggested that questions be sent to the participants so that they could prepare comprehensive answers.

Allama Aqeel Turabi said that murders under Karo-kari and other such customs are committed in Pakistan and, as such, they are local issues having no relation with religion. He blamed law-enforcement agencies and administration for non-implementation of relevant laws due to which a culprit escapes punishment.

Retired Justice Shaiq Usmani said that members of judiciary needed to be sensitized towards such issues. He termed honour killing a ‘social evil’.

He claimed that the percentage of convictions in murder cases had dropped following promulgation of Qisas and Diyat Ordinance in 1990.

Dr Farooq Ahmed Khan said tradition of Swara was being grossly misused in the NWFP. He pointed out that killers of women relatives were rarely punished.

Earlier, Syeda Viquar-un-Nisa Hashmi of the NCSW said that giving away a girl for marriage in some sort of compensation — a custom titled Swara in the NWFP and Vani in Punjab — had been declared as an offence under Section 310 of PPC, but the PPC (Qisas and Diyat Law) did not provide a punishment to discourage the practice.

She said owing to loopholes in the Ordinance, an overwhelming majority of culprits were acquitted.

Quoting figures of 1997-2003 period, she said that in the NWFP 239 cases were registered, 141 were disposed of and there were just 10 convictions the rest being acquittals.

In Sindh, 910 cases were registered and 293 were disposed of. There were 268 acquittals and just 25 convictions. In Balochistan, 39 of 57 registered cases were disposed of with 17 convictions and 22 acquittals.

Ms Hashmi said that 15 cases were disposed of by a district & sessions judge, Lahore, last year and the accused in 13 cases were set free.