Illusions and delusions of democracy - Dr Rubina Saigol

In the past and present we have had at least four senators condone so-called 'honour killing', Ajmal Khattak of the ANP, Sardar Salim Mazari, Israrullah Zehri and Jan Jamali. The perpetrators of crimes committed against women in the name of culture or religion, but in reality for economic motives, often escape punishment as their support is crucial for the ruling party or a dictator. The formal state system which includes the police, the local administration and functionaries, who are under the national and provincial governments, then collude to hide or justify the crime. The writ of state weakens in the local areas controlled by senators, MNAs and MPAs whose support is required for the magic number to win presidential elections or vote of confidence. Our political structures rest on economic structures which in turn rely on tribal practices, and jirgas and panchayats, to maintain power in the local area. In the collusion between formal and informal systems, the formal system capitulates to the informal practices as in the case of the Qisas and Diyat, a tribal custom that has become a part of formal law and allows the perpetrators of 'honor killing' to go free. Our state has therefore become tribalized instead of altering tribal or 'feudal' practices in line with concepts of democracy and human rights.