EVIDENCE ON HONOR KILLINGS UNREPORTED CASES IN DISTRICT SWABI
i. Purpose of the Study:
To know about the prevalence of honor killings those are never reported in the newspapers or to police in the District Swabi of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan
ii. VARIABLE OF INFORMATION
• Age group of the victim
• Marital status of the victim
• The socio-economic class to which victim belonged
• The perpetrator of the crime and relationship of perpetrator of crime to the victim
• Views of the perpetrator on reason for the crime
• Views of others on the reasons for the crime
• Reason for not registering case with the police
iii. Number of Cases
46 CASES FOR THE PERIOD OF 1996 - 2000
IV. AGE GROUP OF WOMEN KILLED
Years) 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994/89 Total %
i 13-18 4 4 - 1 4 - 2 15 33
ii 19-25 2 - 1 - 1 1 2 7 15
iii 26-30 - 1 2 2 1 - 2 8 17
iv 31-35 2 - - - 2 2 - 6 13
v 36-40 3 - - - - 2 - 5 11
vi 41- + 1 - 1 - - - 3 5 11
Total 12 5 4 3 8 5 9 46 100
13-18 4 4 - 1 4 - 2 15 33
19-25 2 - 1 - 1 1 2 7 15
26-30 - 1 2 2 1 - 2 8 17
31-35 2 - - - 2 2 - 6 13
36-40 3 - - - - 2 - 5 11
41- + 1 - 1 - - - 3 5 11
Total 12 5 4 3 8 5 9 46 100
The greater percentage of the victims, i.e. 33%, was very young girls in the age bracket of 13-18 years. More than fifty percent of the victims were married young women.
V. Marital Status
Year 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994-1989 Total %
Married 7 2 2 2 4 4 6 27 59
Single 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 10 22
Engaged 2 - - - 2 - 1 5 11
Widow 2 - 1 - - - 1 4 8
Total 12 5 4 3 8 5 9 46 100
VI. Socio-Economic Environment
Year 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994-89 Total %
Middle Class 10 3 3 3 5 2 5 31 67
Low income Class - 2 1 - 2 2 2 9 20
Well –to- do 2 - - - 1 1 2 6 13
Total 12 5 4 3 8 5 9 46 100
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994-89 Total %
Most cases belong to the middle class throughout the period under review, confirming what is generally referred to as “middle class morality.” The values attributed to this class are a strong sense of honor, adherence to age bound cultural and social norms. I may be noted that the categorization of the classes was based on the surveyor’s judgment and not on any standard provided.
VII. Nature of Violence
Year 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994-89 Total %
Shot 4 4 2 2 4 3 2 21 46
Poisoned 4 1 - 1 1 1 1 9 20
Electrocuted 1 - - - - - 3 4 09
Burnt 1 - - - 1 1 - 3 07
Strangulated - - 1 - 1 - - 2 04
Knifed - - - - - - 2 2 04
Hanged 1 - - - - - 1 2 04
Other 1 - 1 - 1 - - 3 06
Total 12 5 4 3 8 5 9 46 100
Poisoned 4 1 - 1 1 1 1 9 20
Electrocuted 1 - - - - - 3 4 09
Burnt 1 - - - 1 1 - 3 07
Strangulated - - 1 - 1 - - 2 04
Knifed - - - - - - 2 2 04
Hanged 1 - - - - - 1 2 04
Other 1 - 1 - 1 - - 3 06
Total 12 5 4 3 8 5 9 46 100
The most used method of killing was the use of firearms, with surprisingly a large number of cases of poisoning.