Sidra, 19, was murdered in Rawalpindi’s Fauji Colony—allegedly on the orders of a local jirga.
Her crime? Marrying a man of her own choice.
Her punishment? Death.
Strangled. Buried in the dark. Her grave left unmarked. Her memory erased.
Sidra had fled to Azad Kashmir, fearing for her life. But she was eventually brought back, only to be silenced. The case would have gone unnoticed had it not been for local activists and journalists who unearthed the truth behind her hasty, hidden burial. The FIR was filed days later—not by her family, but by the man she had married.
Police have arrested several individuals, including Sidra’s paternal uncle, the local jirga head, and even the grave digger. But the tragedy remains emblematic of a deeper, recurring rot. Sidra is not the first, and if nothing changes, she won’t be the last.
I. A Personal Tragedy, A National Pattern
Sidra’s murder is not an anomaly—it is part of a grim, growing pattern of so-called ‘honour’ killings in Pakistan. In recent weeks alone, similar stories have emerged from Balochistan and other provinces. In each, a woman is punished for asserting autonomy—most often for choosing whom to marry.
These cases share common elements: illegal jirgas acting as parallel justice systems, male relatives justifying violence as ‘protecting honour’, and local authorities either complicit or apathetic.
Despite the country’s legal framework, which formally bans such practices, the enforcement remains weak. Cultural norms, tribal customs, and systemic misogyny often supersede constitutional protections.
II. Justice Delayed, Justice Denied
Sidra’s case exposes the state’s complicity through delay and inaction.
- The police filed the case only after public pressure.
- The body was buried without state knowledge, suggesting either gross negligence or deliberate concealment.
- Jirgas—despite being outlawed by the Supreme Court—continue to operate openly in both urban and rural Pakistan.
There is little political will to dismantle these parallel systems. Too often, politicians and law enforcement turn a blind eye, afraid of confronting local power structures or losing support in conservative constituencies.
This is not just a cultural problem. It is a governance crisis. The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to life and dignity—but for women like Sidra, these rights exist only on paper.
III. A Path Forward: Legislative and Social Reform
If the state is serious about ending ‘honour’ killings, it must act now—with urgency, clarity, and courage. Here is what needs to be done:
- Enforce the ban on jirgas by prosecuting not just individual verdicts, but the entire apparatus behind them.
- Strengthen police accountability through independent oversight bodies that track delays in gender-based violence investigations.
- Amend laws to remove forgiveness clauses that allow family members to pardon perpetrators in honour killing cases.
- Launch public awareness campaigns that dismantle the myth of honour tied to women’s bodies, choices, or actions.
- Integrate protection mechanisms for women seeking refuge—such as safe houses, helplines, and legal aid centers—into mainstream law enforcement.
Sidra’s case must become a turning point, not just another name added to a long list of the forgotten.
There Is No Honour in Murder
Until Pakistan confronts the systems—both tribal and institutional—that enable these killings, we remain a society complicit in the erasure of its women.
Sidra’s story is over. But the fight for justice is not. For every unmarked grave, for every silenced voice, there must be accountability.
There is no honour in killing. There is only shame in silence.
