NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — An honor killing is a phenomenon when an individual is put to death for purportedly disgracing his of her family and surroundings. In Pakistan, women are mostly killed by their husbands or close relatives. Pakistani authorities and human rights activists have long been trying to outlaw honor killings, but certain loopholes and provisions in Pakistani law allowed a victim’s family to pardon his or her killer.
The bill has been unanimously approved by the Committee of the Joint Sitting on Bills, Pakistan's National Assembly said on Twitter.
The new bill excludes the possibility to allow a pardon, but relatives will still be able to help the murderer avoid death penalty, but not a prison term.
The move comes shorty after Qandeel Baloch, 26, a popular social media personality, was killed by her brother for posting pictures which he considered shameful on Facebook.
