Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reports rise in honor killings

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) announced that at least 470 women were murdered by close relatives in honor-related crimes in 2025. This figure represents an increase from the 405 recorded incidents in the previous year. Additionally, the HRCP report documented 1,332 cases of domestic violence-related murders against women last year. More than one-third of the victims were from the Punjab province, where conservative social structures prevail. Legal experts like Rizwan Khan noted that perpetrators are frequently fathers, brothers, or sons citing family honor. Despite the introduction of stricter legislation in 2016 intended to curb these crimes, activist Farzana Bari described the situation as an endemic problem with an upward trend. Amnesty International highlighted that perpetrators often evade punishment due to Islamic law provisions allowing victims' families to grant pardons. The ongoing legal framework remains a subject of international and domestic scrutiny.