Honor Killings in Pakistan: Patriarchy, Law, and the Struggle for Human Rights

Honor killing remains a pervasive issue in Pakistan, primarily rooted in patriarchal norms and cultural traditions that place a disproportionate emphasis on family honor, particularly linked to women’s behavior. This study investigates the socio-cultural, legal, and religious factors contributing to the persistence of honor killings, exploring their frequency, impact, and the complex challenges surrounding their prevention. Despite the enactment of The Anti-Honour Killing Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment Act of 2016), implementation remains inconsistent, largely due to the dominance of customary practices over statutory law. The research highlights how gender inequality, tribal codes, and misinterpretations of religious teachings perpetuate this form of violence. Victims and their families often endure profound emotional trauma, social isolation, and systemic injustice. This study provides a critical review of current legal frameworks and identifies gaps in enforcement, while also offering recommendations for more effective policy implementation. These include strengthening law enforcement mechanisms, promoting legal literacy, and fostering societal awareness to challenge the cultural acceptance of honor-based violence. Furthermore, the paper calls for community-based interventions, educational initiatives, and religious discourse reform to dismantle the ideological foundations of honor killing. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the national and global discourse on human rights by advocating for a multifaceted approach to eradicating honor killings in Pakistan.