PESHAWAR: Female members of the NWFP Assembly (MPAs) demanded on Friday that the provincial government take action against nazims, councillors and elders in Upper Dir who declared in a jirga that honour killing was not only permissible but anyone filing a case with the police or moving the courts would also be executed.In her adjournment motion, Farah Aqil Shah of the Awami National Party (ANP) raised the issue and expressed concern over the decision made by Upper Dir elders, nazims and councillors in a jirga. "It is an important issue. Their decision is against the law. Honour killing is a crime and therefore, the government must take action against those involved in declaring it permissible," she said. Farah said it was a state-within-a-state like situation and people were making their own laws.
Naeema Kishwar of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) expressed concern that nazims and councillors were involved in the jirga. "Honour killing is not only against Pakistan's laws but also against the Hudood laws. Both laws do not allow honour killing," said the MMA member. Naeema said the Dir jirga's decision was un-Islamic and the government must take action against the jirga members involved. Nasreen Khattak of the Pakistan Peoples' Party Sherpao (PPPS), protested against honour killing. "It is murder and Islam does not permit it."