“THE HONOUR KILLING: ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTION OF THE PUNJAB UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVING RURAL BACKGROUND”

A THESIS

 SUBMITTED TO THE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL STUDY UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB, LAHORE

 IN PARTIAL FULFILLMINT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

 FOR THE DEGREE OF

 MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN

CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY STUDY

SHAHID RASHID

SHAHID IQBAL

HAFIZ ZEESHAN

RIZWAN ALI

AYESHA SALEEM

         (2011)

Acknowledgements

All thanks to Almighty Allah, the Compassionate and Merciful, who enabled us to complete the research project.

The researchers are profoundly obliged to their research advisor, the most respected Mr. Tahir Mehmood Gondal, for his guidance, his critical suggestions and giving his time from his teaching and official activities.

The researchers feel much pleasure in expressing their deep regard and gratitude to Prof. Dr. Zakaria Zakir for his suggestions, invaluable guidance and giving his invaluable time.

The researchers are also thankful to other members of the faculty.

The researchers are especially thankful to the library staff Mr. Waqas and Mr. Zafar for their full co-operation and providing relevant books on the topic and computer in-charge Mr. Ashraf.

Thanks are also due to the sincere friends and class fellows of the researchers namely Rao Irfan, Zeeshan Bughti, Kashif Dogar and Saira Tubassum who helped us in conducting F.G.Ds.

Lastly, we offer our kind regards and blessings to all of those who helped us to make this research possible such as our seniors, who gave us the moral support to complete our thesis.

      

Abstract

This research sets out to examine the main excuses, often mentioned in connection to the so-called “honour killings” in the rural areas of the Punjab. In this way, the aim is to discuss the idea of “honour killings” by looking at trends and patterns in this kind of homicides in Punjab. This study also explores what social, legal and judicial obstacles stand in the way of putting an end to the abuse of killing women in the name of honour. In Pakistan, the concept of the patriarchy is deep rooted in the family institution of society, which permits to the father or brother to choose the fate of their daughter or sister in shape of forced marriages. Women and girls are killed on the name of honour, when the patriarchal controller perceives that he has lost the control are about to lose the control on the women.

The manifestation of the vital significance of honour killing is murder; in addition, the overall aim of the research was to find out the attitude of honour killing of “Punjab University” students belonging to the rural Punjab. Most cultural elements such as honour killing, considering a norm, marriages within castes, gender discrimination, patriarchy and certain customs as well, were maintained by the young generation. However there is clear change in the attitude of an educated person’s response (belonging to urban and educated family) towards his female relative in the cases elopement (run away secretly to get married), in the matter of spouse choice and court marriages. Their reaction was only in the form of excluded their female relatives. Whereas the response of educated person (belonging to rural and having uneducated families) reaction was severe in above mention reasons and leading to honour killing.

Women are discriminated in a systematical way by law and society. Double standards of domestic laws trigger the phenomena of “honour killings” in Pakistan, where a businessman is considered a culprit, when he kills the other businessman in the name of honour. However the killer of woman on the name of so-called honour is given the lenient hand by the community and the law enforcing agencies.

         In the end, it is concluded that cultural norms and values are more influential than the education and existing laws. Honour killing is a norm in the context of illegal relationships and is mostly used in the garb of honour in rural Punjab. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER 1                                                                           Page No

INTRODUCTION                                                                       1

Background                                                                                                           4 

Judicial System in Pakistan                                                                                    6

Informal Judicial System/Parallel Justice System                                                  6

Formal Judicial System                                                                                          10

Factors contributing to HK                                                                                    13  

Objectives & Goals                                                                                                14

Sociological Significance                                                                        14

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW                                                           16

Notion of Patriarchy                                                                                              21

Disciplinary Power                                                                                                 22

Public/Private division                                                                                           22

Cultural setting of the area                                                                                    23

Media                                                                                                                     24

Women’s human rights & Islam                                                                            24

Pakistani society & origin of HK                                                                           27

CHAPTER 3

OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE CONCEPTS                    29

CHAPTER 4

METHODOLOGY                                                                       33

Universe                                                                                                                  33

Sample                                                                                                                                33

Techniques of Data Collection                                                                               33

Pre-testing                                                                                                               34

Collection of Data & Field Experience                                                                  34

CHAPTER 5

GENERAL FINDINGS                                                                          36

Report of In-depth Interviews & F.G.Ds                                                               36

CHAPTER 6

DISCUSSION                                                                               49

CHAPTER 7

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION & SUGGESTIONS                     52

Summary                                                                                                                 52

Conclusion                                                                                                              54

Suggestions                                                                                                             55

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

            Interview Guide of In-depth interview

            Check List of Focus Group Discussion