PML-QA MNA moves bill against honour killing

By Shahzad Raza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-QA) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) MP Bhandara has moved a bill in the National Assembly against karo kari.

“I have moved the bill against karo kari, which is expected to be tabled before the lower house of parliament in its next session,” Mr Bhandara said while talking to Daily Times on Wednesday. Mr Bhandara said the practice of karo kari should be declared an offense.

He said that he had moved the bill after thinking about the issue. He said that he was given a cold response from the male members of the PML-QA.

He admitted that influential feudal lords sitting on the National Assembly (NA) treasury benches were against any move that rejected the terrible crime of karo kari. Mr Bhandara presented a resolution in November 2003 in the lower house which was supported by the NA’s female members from the treasury benches, but was strongly opposed by their male colleagues.

PML-QA sources said that female parliamentarians and their ‘like-minded’ colleagues would lobby with other parliamentary forces to pass the bill. Mr Bhandara also confirmed that a process of consultation would start once the bill is tabled in the NA.

Sources said that some of the political leaders were of the view that karo kari or honour killing was part of old age tradition and it would not be an easy task to erase such traditions with a stroke of the pen.

Some of the treasury members, who support the bill, might contact the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to favour the bill, sources said. Sources added that the Mutahida Quami Movement had already given its assurance that it would back the legislation against the practice of karo kari. Talking to Daily Times, PML-QA women leaders said they hoped that President General Pervez Musharraf would take a personal interest in the issue.

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