President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday pledged to address the issue of "honor killings" by dealing with the perpetrators in the harshest manner and called for a public debate on Hudood laws. "We must deal with culprits of honor killing most harshly with all the force available to the government," he said.... Equating the honor killing with murder, he called for an attitudinal change in dealing with the issue.
Commenting on the Hudood Ordinance 1979, he said it should be made open for discussion and correct understanding. .... A green signal for repeal of Hudood laws 1979, by initiating dialogue on the subject, gave the president a standing ovation from the audience.... "Whenever I come to know of any case (of honor killing), I take immediate action but unfortunately it is not a one man job," President Musharraf said. He urged those in authority to deal with cases of honor killings and not allow them to fall through "cracks in the legal system". "I would like to urge ... all those who are in positions of authority to try cases ... to show civilized behavior, to show that we are a tolerant, educated, progressive society and we do not tolerate honor killings," he said.... |