Pakistan

Dossier 3: How far are penal laws effective in protecting women

Introduction

The legal code of a nation ordinarily reflects, or should reflect, the values of the society that form that nation. It depicts the influence of its past history and its future aspirations or, at least, the aspirations of those in control. The structure, mode, content and intent of the code indicate the ethical concepts peculiar to that nation. All penal codes have ostensibly the same aims - to punish the offender, to prevent crime and to preserve the peace.

Pakistan: Women Fighting Own War Against Honour Killings

While Pakistan fights global terrorism alongside the United States and its allies, the country’s women are engaged in their own war against the terror of escalating ‘honour’ killings.

Pakistan: The blasphemy law and misuse of religion

Mianwali again saw a manifestation of one of the worst forms of religious extremism and fundamentalism in Pakistan, when Rukhsana Bunyad, a local social activist and district councilor was charged having allegedly made remarks against the Holy Qur'an.

Pakistan: Text of Federal Shariat Court judgment in Zafran Bibi case

The text of the detailed judgment released by the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) in the case of Zafran Bibi.

Pakistan: Time for repeal

A recent discussion organized by the Aurat Foundation on the Hudood Ordinances certainly gave one a feeling of deja-vu, by Zohra Yusuf.

Pakistan: Brutality cloaked as tradition

How could a tribal council in the Pakistani village of Meerwala Jatoi decree that a young woman be raped in revenge for a crime allegedly committed by her brother? by Beena Sarwar

Pakistan: Victimising in the name of honour

In Pakistan, the blasphemy law has only acted as a catalyst to abuse the innocent in the name of religious honour. Is Islam so brittle and vulnerable that it can easily be dishonoured by a so-called 'insane' statement?

Pakistan: Zafran Bibi case seminar

The Zina (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979.

Pakistan: Blasphemy laws

It is not every day that I get a letter from the Death Cell, Central Jail, Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

Pakistan: Stoning sentence against Zafran Bibi is suspended

A court in Pakistan has suspended the sentence of stoning to death passed against a woman convicted of adultery.