PESHAWAR, Oct 24: The number of women killed in the name of honour by their close male relatives is on the rise in Swabi distirct. Women relatives of the victims told Dawn that there had been a rise in the number of honour-related cases despite the fact that more girls are getting education and awareness are growing.

“Young girls are shot by their male relatives on mere suspicion and police do not catch the culprits,” said Gul Mina, a school teacher in Swabi.

Four months ago, a 17-year old girl Anila, resident of Pajmund Village, who had just finished her high school study, was killed after allegations that she had gone out of home and dishonoured her family. She was alleged to have friendship with a boy of the village.

The police arrested the father Mohammad Khalid suspecting him of killing his daughter, but later released him for lack of evidence. “Anila was a good basket ball player of her school team. She was lively and there was nothing wrong with her character,” said a school teacher who knew her well.

A close relative of Gul Pari, another married woman was killed last month in the name of honour in Naway Kalay village of Swabi district, said that Gul Pari was killed allegedly by her brother who was suspicious about her character based on just slanders.

The 25-year-old Gul Pari, a mother of seven was killed, just because neighbours and some of her family members suspected that her character was not good.

“Nobody saw her doing anything bad but the neighbours said she did not have a good character,” a relative of her said.

Her husband took Gul Pari and his kids to another village out of fear but her brother, with some hired men went after her and shot her at night, a close relative told Dawn.

“Her husband knew who killed Gul Pari but was pressured to nominate his other cousins who had nothing to do with the killing. The two cousins were arrested by the police who were later released after paying 200,000 rupees to husband of Gul Pari,” a relative said.

Another 25-year-old married woman, Gulnaar, a resident of Nadho village was also killed last month by her cousin Gul Zada for he felt dishonoured when his friend said something nasty to him and the reason was Gulnaar.

Gulnaar got divorced by her husband Mohammad Wali some five months ago on a domestic issue but later repented it. He got his wife married to another man Sabz Ali, an absconder and resident of Nadho village for Halala, so that he could marry her again. He himself went to Dubai for work and Gulnaar came back to her mother’s house soon after the Halala to spend her Iddat.

The mother of Gulnaar nominated Gul Zada in the FIR but the police did not arrest him and he is still an absconder, a relative said.