Lahore witnesses steady rise in honor killings

 Lahore continues to encounter the menace of honor killings despite growing awareness and calls for strict enforcement of laws, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

According to a police report, a staggering 132 women have lost their lives to this brutal practice over the past 14 years in the provincial capital city.  

The data reveals a troubling pattern of violence against women under the guise of so-called "honor." 

In 2011, 10 women were murdered, a number that climbed to 15 in 2012 before slightly declining to 11 in 2013. 

The situation worsened in 2014, with 24 women falling victim to these heinous crimes, marking the highest annual toll in the period under review.

Subsequent years saw fluctuations in the number of killings: thirteen women in 2015, seven in 2016, nine in 2017, ten in 2018, and twelve in 2019. 

A downward trend appeared in 2021 and 2022, with 6 and 4 cases reported, respectively. 

However, the pattern persisted, with two women killed in 2023 and a resurgence in 2024 when six women were tragically murdered.

Human rights activists have decried the continuing violence, citing the lack of societal change and ineffective legal measures as key factors perpetuating these crimes. 

Despite the implementation of laws aimed at punishing perpetrators, many cases remain unreported or unresolved due to cultural taboos and familial pressures.

Reporter: Israr Khan