Pakistan makes 'honour killings' punishable by mandatory prison time

Pakistani men who kill their female relatives in the name of honour will no longer be able to evade punishment after the country’s parliament passed long-promised legislation.

The landmark Bill passed on Thursday guarantees mandatory prison sentences of 25 years and strips families of the right to legally pardon the perpetrators of so-called “honour killings”.

Women have been murdered for allegedly bringing shame on their families in various ways, including marrying men of their own choosing and, in one case this year, helping a friend elope.

Although the country’s clerics have been opposition to any dilution of laws based on Sharia principle, they do not condone murder.

The new law, which was passed by a joint sitting of the two houses of Pakistan’s parliament, will allow relatives to pardon the killer if he is sentenced to death. However, the culprit will not be able to avoid a mandatory life prison sentence.

The Pakistani parliament also passed on Thursday a tough new anti-rape law intended to speed up trials and mandating DNA testing.