Honour Killings Cannot Be Normalised, Says Sherry Rehman in Senate
Patriarchal Thinking Exists Beyond Poverty, Sherry Rehman Tells Senate
Islamabad – 8 May 2026 (Adnan Hameed) : Presiding Officer, Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Sherry Rehman, expressed deep concern in the Senate today over the rising tide of violent crimes against women across Pakistan, calling the situation “deeply distressing and unacceptable.”
Senator Rehman said the country is witnessing a dangerous surge in honour killings, rape, and other forms of gender-based violence, urging Parliament and the government to respond with far greater urgency. “The surge in these cases is deeply concerning. We cannot allow such brutality to become normalised,” she stated.
She underscored the abysmal conviction rate of only five percent in cases involving crimes against women. “When justice is delivered sporadically, it reflects a systemic failure. This is an extremely alarming state of affairs,” she added.
Recalling earlier legislative efforts, she noted that the Women’s Protection Bill drafted years ago laid an important foundation, which was later strengthened by provincial legislation. “The legislative framework exists. What is missing is implementation with resolve and consistency,” she stressed.
During the Senate debate, Senator Rehman referenced the recent killing of Rubina Chandio, describing it as “only the latest in a long line of such horrific cases.” She underscored the troubling social acceptance that continues to surround honour-based violence in parts of the country.
“It is disturbing to note not only the brutality with which these crimes are carried out, but also the dangerous social acceptance around them,” she said. She rejected the common myth that such crimes are limited to remote areas or linked solely to poverty and illiteracy. “These crimes also occur within influential households. Wealth, status, and education do not erase patriarchal thinking—often, they provide stronger networks of silence and protection.”
Senator Rehman urged Parliament to ensure that cases of honour killings and violence against women are continuously and rigorously taken up by the Senate Human Rights Committee. “True deterrence will only come when a few perpetrators are made unquestionable examples,” she asserted.
In her role as Presiding Officer, she referred the case of Rubina Chandio to the Senate Human Rights Committee for immediate scrutiny and action.
