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Through the eyes of an honour killer
 LAHORE: In Sanda police station, Muhammad Azam — a man who has confessed to the murder of his sister — awaits his verdict with little repentance or remorse. His reasons for killing the divorced mother of four — to defend family honour. Azam, a milkman by tradition who is soon to be transferred to Camp Jail, slaughtered 32-year-old Shahnaz at her house in Abu Bakar Colony, Bund Road on February 23 after suspecting her of having illicit relations. After the murder, Azam did not flee, instead he waited out patiently for the police to reach the crime scene and arrest him. "Our society leaves men like me with few options. I had to kill her to get my peace of mind," Azam told Daily Times from behind lockup. Shahnaz married Zafar Ali after divorcing husband Allah Dita, from whom she had four children — Khurram Shahzad 14, Muhammad Amir, 12, Shan, 9 and Muzamil Abbas, 6. Ali is currently serving a sentence in Sheikhupura Jail for attempted murder while the kids are in the custody of their grandfather Malik Ali. "Since her husband went to jail, she started going out with other men," said a teary-eyed Azam, adding, "For two years I kept asking her to mend ways. I literally begged her to stop her antics because the children were being neglected. Everyone laughed at me. I couldn't take it anymore." When asked whether being sentenced to death was worth it, he said, "In our society, a poor man has little dignity, and he cannot bear to part with it. My friends used to humiliate me. I decided to end my ordeal and face what may come." Sanda station house officer Muhammad Ishtiaq said that every individual held different views. "Most people in Punjab would rather face death, than let female family members dishonour the family name by having illicit relations," he stated. Posted by: Fred 2005-02-27 |
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