Honour Killing in Pakistan: Legal Response under Section 311 PPC and the Limits of Qisas and Diyat Framework

Honour killing is one of the most serious human rights problems in Pakistan. Every year, hundreds of women and girls are killed by their own family members in the name of family honour. The law says this is murder. The Constitution says every person has the right to life and dignity. But in reality, most honour killers either go free or receive very light punishment. This research looks at why that happens. The main reason is how the Qisas and Diyat framework in the Pakistan Penal Code works. Under this system, the family of the victim can forgive the killer or accept blood money. In honour killing cases, the killer and the victim are often from the same family. This means the very people who committed the killing are also the ones who can grant forgiveness. Section 311 PPC was added to fix this problem. It allows courts to punish the killer even if the family forgives them. But this section has not worked the way it was supposed to. Courts have applied it inconsistently. In many cases, killers still walk free. This research examines how courts have dealt with honour killing cases, where the legal response has worked, and where it has failed. The conclusion is clear. The Qisas and Diyat framework, as currently applied to honour killings, is not protecting women. It is protecting killers. Serious legal and judicial reform is needed to change this.