In a country where so-called ‘honour’ killings are common practice, the brutality of the killing has forced Pakistan to confront its poor record on gender-based violence.
In the World Economic Forum’s global gender index, Pakistan is ranked 153 out of 156 countries, just above its Taliban-ravaged neighbour Afghanistan.
In the latest case of brutal killing, a notable senior journalist Ayaz Amir’s daughter-in-law was killed by her own husband.
Case
Sara Bibi, the daughter-in-law of Ayaz Amir was murdered by her own husband Shahnawaz in Islamabad’s Chak Shehzad suburb.
Murder weapon
The 37-year-old Sara was living at an Islamabad farmhouse where she was found dead this morning. As per the police, she was murdered with a dumbbell and her 37-year-old husband is the prime suspect in the case.
Arrest
Soon police and investigation teams reached the crime scene, and the notable journalist’s son was arrested.
The stance of Ayaz Amir
In the latest interview, the journalist expressed his grief and told the media that he is still in shock because of the matter. He also said that he wished this would never happen to anyone. Upon being asked if he knew his son did drugs, the journalist dodged the question.
Rising violence against women
In 2021, Thomas Reuters Foundation poll ranked Pakistan 153rd out of 156 countries on the Global Gender Gap 2021 index by the World Economic Forum.
The Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) noted a rise in domestic and online violence complaints in just the last two years, 2020 and 2021.
The HRCP recorded 430 cases of honour killings in 2020, which involved 263 female victims. Around 28 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 29 have experienced physical violence.
According to the Aurat Foundation, a women’s rights organisation based in Islamabad, Pakistan, 2,297 cases of violence against women were registered in four provinces in 2021. These violent incidents involved murder, abduction, kidnapping, rape and gang rape, honour killings, and domestic abuse.
How are netizens reacting to such news?
Here is what social media users are saying:
#BREAKING: Daughter in law of senior journalist #AyazAmir murdered in farmhouse of #Islamabad.
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) September 23, 2022
In a high profile murder case which has shocked Pakistani society just like Noor Mukadam’s Case, Ayaz Amir’s son has allegedly murdered his wife in a suspected honour killing. #AyazAmir refused to comment on whether his son was under the influence of any narcotics. pic.twitter.com/4TuSQQS7Du
— Hamza Azhar Salam (@HamzaAzhrSalam) September 23, 2022
I hope Ayaz Amir doesn’t pursue his son case and let him rot in jail. It’s difficult for a father but still maybe we could start it from here and put and end to domestic violence of any kind and type.
— ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? (@Lalika79) September 23, 2022
This lady, daughter in law of senior journalist Ayaz Amir has been murdered by her husband at a farmhouse in Islamabad.
Where is @ICT_Police???#AyazAmir pic.twitter.com/ccfT7zIgRX— Danish Khan (@DanishkhanPAK) September 23, 2022
What excuse will the heinous justifiers of Noor Mukkadam’s murder say now at the murder of Ayaz Amir’s daughter in law who was in HER house murdered by HER husband. High time we full heartedly accept that men around us are the problem and were always the problem.
— rameen (@rameensak) September 23, 2022
