Three women in one family killed for ‘honour’ in Pakistan

Three young women of the same family were shot dead on Wednesday by male relatives who suspected them of having relations with men.

Three young women of the same family were shot dead on Wednesday by male relatives who suspected them of having relations with men.

Nearly 1,100 women were killed in Pakistan in 2015 by their relatives, who believed they had dishonoured their families, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a report released in April. (Reuters File Photo)

According to police, Zahara, Farzana and her step-mother Nasreen — residents of Chak 92 Rb in Faisalabad district — were found dead by residents after they heard gunshots in the morning. Three men had fled the scene before the neighbours arrived.

The police said initial investigations revealed that Farzana’s husband Wahid alias Baga, Zahara’s husband Saqib and his brother had exchanged harsh words with the women before the incident. The neighbours confirmed that the family members had an argument before they heard the gunshots. According to local residents, the husband was not happy with his wife and daughter.

A murder case has been registered against the three suspects at Balochni police station on the complaint of Zahra’s father. The police are conducting raids in different parts of the city to arrest the suspects.

Nearly 1,100 women were killed in Pakistan in 2015 by their relatives, who believed they had dishonoured their families, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a report released in April. In its annual report, the commission said 900 more women suffered sexual violence and nearly 800 took, or tried to take, their own lives. In 2014 about 1,000 women died in honour-related attacks and 869 in 2013.