Senator defends honour-killing

ISLAMABAD- A Baloch tribal lord caught the upper house by surprise here on Friday when he came forward defending the honour killing of five women in Balochistan saying ‘these are our norms which should not be highlighted negatively’.
Baloch Senator Israr Ullah Zehri while aggressively interrupting Senator Bibi Yasmin Shah, who condemned the brutal act of burying alive five women in Balochistan on charges of ‘love marriage’, said it was part of their traditions, which, he said, should not be negatively highlighted.
Senator Bibi Yasmin Shah, however, continued and alleged that the government was not taking action against the culprits because of the involvement, as she said, of a PPP provincial minister in the incident. She demanded of the government to take strict action against the tribal elders involved in what she termed as a serious crime against humanity.
Jan Muhammad Jamali, Deputy Chairman Senate said that he could not comment over the issue as Baloch traditions did not allow him to comment over an incident occurred in another tribe. However, while addressing Bibi Yasmin Shah, Jamali said that raising voice over the like issues was easy in Islamabad but it was much difficult in Balochistan to argue over the same.
Moreover, as a rare example in the Upper House of the Parliament, where emotional speeches and exchange of harsh words between the treasury and opposition benches is common over routine issues, only Senators Kamil Ali Agha, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and Jamal Leghari supported Bibi Yasmin Shah while rest of the House kept mum or indifferent.
Leader of the Opposition, Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that no one could be allowed to practice such brutal traditions in presence of constitution and courts in the country. Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said that Islam allowed no one to commit such brutality in any capacity. Jamal Leghari termed the incident against the traditions and norms of Baloch people and demanded exemplary action against those involved in the heinous crime.