Summary Launch of documentary; there is no honour in honour killing: Prime Minister
Dunya News Report (Humaira Sajid)
ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday termed honor killing as an act of despicability saying it was his government’s highest priority to empower women and eradicate violence against them in the society, Dunya News reported.
Addressing at the launch of a documentary "A girl in the River" at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad by Oscar award winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the government will take all the essential steps to bring an end to all kinds of discrimination against women.
He said the government is committed to address women problems and take necessary steps to stop hateful practice of honor killings. Men and women enjoy equal rights in Islam and the government has laid special focus on the protection of women rights, he added.
PM asserted that killing in the name of honor is wrong and ascertained manifestation of his government’s resolve to introduce a relevant legislation to ensure protection of human rights of all segments of society as per the constitution and check ruthless practices as such honor killings; reported Dunya News.
While addressing the general public of Pakistan, PM said people are aware of the fact that their rights can be protected in a better way in the democratic system and considered it as his mission to translate Quaid-i-Azam s vision for a prosperous and developed Pakistan into a reality.
The event was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, ministers of State for Information Technology Anousha Rehman and of health Saira Afzal Tarar, Prime Minister s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, envoys including Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong and human rights activists. The PM s daughter Maryam Nawaz also joined them.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharmeen Chinoy said she will continue to highlight social evils with aim to reform the society. Obaid Chinoy is first Pakistani, who previously won an Oscar for her documentary “Saving Face,” about Pakistani women who were victims of acid attack. However once more Chinoy has outshined and now her documentary “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness,” is one of this year’s Oscar contenders for short films, and which will also get air on HBO in March.
While Chinoy stressed working hard together to pave the way for strong legislation against honor killing, which she termed as "premeditative murder". She expressed gratitude to PM Nawaz Sharif for his support for the launch of film from his Office, and added that it was a laudable initiative by a true democratically elected leader. According to reporters, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy said as a citizen of Pakistan, she was proud of the Prime Minister s support for the cause against honor killing.
Obaid Chinoy plans to hold screenings of “A Girl in the River” in colleges and schools across Pakistan once the film launches. During an interview, she said “I want people to see honor killings as premeditated, cold-blooded murder, a reality that gets garbled in wording about ‘honor’ and ‘shame.”
From Asma Jahangir to Malala Yousufzai, countless Pakistani women challenge patriarchy on a daily basis. At times, they confront it upfront. Sometimes, they negotiate their way. But they refuse to submit.
