Across many parts of the world and especially in our society, the word honour is glorified as a sacred shield that must be protected at any cost—even if it requires the sacrifice of a life. Primarily, women are targeted for making choices of their own. They are punished for simple decisions they make for themselves, such as marrying for love, dressing freely, speaking loudly, and many more. Young boys and girls are killed not for sinning, but for making their own choices. This is not honour; this is murder and cruelty in the shape of tradition. Families that are supposed to stop these bloodshed and protect their children fear the whispers of society more than the screams of their blood.

These days, culture has become a cage and honour a weapon. The most painful and saddest truth is that innocent people are buried. Still, their killers are walking free on the roads rather than being punished. They are even supported differently. Humanity is completely finished in this world. People who are not supposed to be killed are being murdered, while those who should be punished are unfortunately walking here and there freely. We are living in a nation which denies justice, and a nation that denies justice is destined to be doomed.

Dreams are crushed under the pressure of Log kya kahenge

Growing up, I have heard people say this multiple time, “this is how it has been always.” Justifying the act in the name of traditions that no longer fit in the world we currently live in. I ask one question: Are our traditions still serve us or hold us back. Girls are told to be obedient, not ambitious. Boys are told to be tough, not calm and tender. Mental health is completely ignored because they always say, “We don’t talk about such things.” Dreams are often buried under the weight of “log kya kahenge” (what will people say). Many young people are pushed to follow paths they never chose, simply to uphold family honour and satisfy traditions. Is this what we call honour?

Legally and morally, there cannot be a justification for honour killings. They violate fundamental human right and dignity. No culture and religion be twisted to justify murder or cruelty. When violence is used to justify honour, it loses its all meaning. In such a moment, we can say that humanity does not rise it bleeds.

True honour does not lie in killing anybody, but by protecting them it does. As an English novelist, David Mitchell, said “violence is never a sign of strength, it is a confession of weakness.” Until this society realises that no reputation is worth more than a life, the cycle of bloodshed will continue, and humanity will keep bleeding.

Honour killings are not about religion. They are about control, power and a warped sense of family pride.

Malala Yousafzai

In July 2025 Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah Sumalani were killed in the name of honour in the outskirts of Quetta. A video was widely shared showing Bano holding a Quran and being shot by her brothers. Before both were shot, investigations revealed that a tribal Jirga ordered the murder. They declared it dishonouring the family. The Police arrested a dozen suspects, including Jirga leaders. The reports confirmed that Bano was shot seven times and Ahsan nine times. The Activists should demand to stop these illegal jirgas.

Whatever happened in the past few weeks is horrifying. No one deserves to be killed because they chose to marry of their own. It is surprising that the world is advancing with artificial intelligence and space exploration, and we are stuck with traditional and decades-old customs that violate fundamental rights. More to our surprise, jirgas even justify murder in the name of honour. This isn’t culture. It’s a murder. And it must end.

It’s the time we stand against illegal Jirgas and protect the rights and lives of all people, especially women, who are often victims of this so-called honour. Over 400 cases were reported in Pakistan between 1998 and 2004, and the outbreak has started again. They killed the innocent people in the name of honour, then later named it a suicide or accident. The actual numbers of honour killing cases are believed to be much higher than the reports.

In Pakistan, mainly women are targeted. They call it honour, but honour never bleeds — the innocent only fear does. In most cases, people are killed by their own family and blood. For instance, consider the recent incident that happened in late July. How can one have the courage to shoot and kill their sister and daughters? But they commit crimes with pride, and money saves them from the punishment they deserve for their actions.

People and these families think only about what people or society will say, they hear the voices of society more than their own children’s screams. It’s a shame for the whole of humanity that these unnecessary Tribal Jirgas and decisions still exist. They always gave it the name of “honour”, but they forgot that “What honour is this where love is punished as death?” The main problem is why our government does not take action on these murderers. In our country, the murderers are in custody for 2 days, then to save them from punishment, they bring a twist to the whole case.

They should take strict actions against them so that no one would dare to kill anyone. We have to understand that every life is worth living. Until we learn that, the bleeding will not stop; it will simply be renamed and remembered as something it never truly was.