APROPOS the news item ‘Qandeel Baloch’s brother sentenced to life for her murder; Mufti Qavi, others acquitted’ (Sept 27).

Finally the court in Multan has sentenced Qandeel Baloch’s brother, the prime suspect in her murder case, to a life behind bars. It is sad to note that the other suspects, including her brother, Mufti Qavi and a few others, were acquitted.

The news item said: “According to the detailed verdict for the case, the prosecution had ‘successfully proved its case beyond shadow of reasonable doubt through cogent, convincing and inspiring evidence against the accused for committing qatl-i-amd (wilful murder) of his sister Fouzia Ameen alias Qandeel Balouch in shape of proving his presence at the place of occurrence, in shape of judicial confession corroborated with positive results of his DNA. So he is held guilty of committing qatl-i-amd of his sister.”

Honour killings are a serious issue in Pakistan. The numbers have gone up in the last couple of years, and it is high time we hold an open discussion about it.

Even in Qandeel’s case, it was stuck in court for almost three years. There were attempts to dismiss the case after her parents provided the court with an affidavit forgiving their son but, thankfully, the court dismissed it.

This case will set a precedent for similar cases in Pakistan. With the incorporation of a punishment for it in the legal system, there is a chance that the number of such murders can be reduced in the country.

Imran Rasheed

Kech

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2019