See Update near bottom.
A Pakistani court has charged five men, including a father and two brothers, for the murder of a woman beaten to death outside a Lahore court for marrying without their consent.
Farzana Parveen, who was three months pregnant, was pelted with bricks and bludgeoned to death.
Witnesses have been told to deliver statements before the Lahore High Court court on Monday.
The killing triggered fury in Pakistan because of its cruel and brazen nature.
It was all the more controversial because Ms Parveen's husband alleged that police had done nothing to save her.
Police collect evidence near the body of Farzana Iqbal, who was killed by family members, at the site near the Lahore High Court building in Lahore May 27
Police questioned witnesses after the incident in May as Ms Parveen's bloodied body lay on the pavement
"The court today indicted the father, two brothers, one cousin and ex-husband of the victim for murder, torture and terrorism," investigator Mian Zulfiqar told the AFP news agency.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanded "immediate action" over the murder, which drew international criticism.
The US described the killing in May as heinous while UN human rights chief Navi Pillay described it as "deeply shocking".
There are hundreds of so-called "honour killings" in Pakistan each year.
Arranged marriages are the norm in Pakistan and marrying against the wishes of the family is unthinkable in many deeply conservative communities.
Ms Parveen came from a small town outside Lahore. According to reports, her family was furious because she decided to marry Muhammad Iqbal instead of a man they had chosen.
Her relatives then filed a case for abduction against Mr Iqbal at the High Court.
Honour killings in Pakistan
• In 2013, 869 women murdered in so called "honour killings"
• Campaigners say real number is likely to be much higher
• Of these, 359 were so called "Karo Kari" cases, where family members consider themselves authorised to kill offending relatives to restore honour
• Rights groups say conviction rate in cases of sexual and other violence against women is "critically low"
Source: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan annual report 2013
The newlyweds were only at the Lahore court to contest the family's case. Ms Parveen had already testified to police that she had married of her own free will.
Mr Iqbal told the BBC that when the couple had arrived at the court on 27 May, his wife's relatives were waiting and tried to take her away.
As she struggled to free herself they dragged her to the floor, pelted her with bricks and then smashed her head. He said that she died on the pavement.
I suspect that PM Sharif is hoping that attention will be drawn away since charges were laid. However, what is likely to happen is that the mother will forgive the murderers of her daughter and that will be the end of it. No prosecution, no jail time.
Sharif has to quickly put a law in place forbidding the escapement of punishment for honour-killings because they were forgiven. He has to reach the backward people stuck in the middle-ages and teach them that honour-killing is wrong - they don't know that.
Update: November 2014
4 of Ms Parveen's Murderers Sentenced to Death
A Pakistani court has given the death sentence to four people for bludgeoning to death a pregnant relative who had married without their consent.
Farzana Parveen, 30, was beaten with bricks and sticks in May outside Lahore's high court. Police deny charges they stood by as it happened.
Ms Parveen's father, brother, cousin and former fiancé were all found guilty of murder on Wednesday. Another brother got 10 years in jail.
The case sparked global outrage.
Ms Parveen had been at the high court to defend her husband in a case brought against him by her relatives. They accused Muhammad Iqbal of abducting her. Ms Parveen had already testified to police that she had married of her own free will.
According the police, a scuffle took place between about 20 members of Ms Parveen's family and 10-15 of Mr Iqbal's, during which she was struck with a brick three times and fatally wounded. He managed to escape.
Police say that Ms Parveen was dead by the time officers were able to intervene.
Court officials say the defendants will have the right to appeal in Lahore's high court.
The BBC's Shaimaa Khalil in Islamabad says Farzana Parveen's death by stoning in broad daylight outside a court is shocking even by the standards of Pakistan, where so-called honour killings are common.
Our correspondent says death sentences for family members in such cases are unusual, but many are saying there is a chance Farzana Parveen's relatives could walk free or have their sentences reduced on appeal.
Usually, all they need is for a family member to forgive them for her murderers to go free. They won't have any trouble finding someone to do that, then Farzana just becomes another statistic, another honour-killing without justice.
A Pakistani court has charged five men, including a father and two brothers, for the murder of a woman beaten to death outside a Lahore court for marrying without their consent.
Farzana Parveen, who was three months pregnant, was pelted with bricks and bludgeoned to death.
 |
| Farzana Parveen murdered by family for 'honour' |
The killing triggered fury in Pakistan because of its cruel and brazen nature.
It was all the more controversial because Ms Parveen's husband alleged that police had done nothing to save her.
Police collect evidence near the body of Farzana Iqbal, who was killed by family members, at the site near the Lahore High Court building in Lahore May 27
Police questioned witnesses after the incident in May as Ms Parveen's bloodied body lay on the pavement
"The court today indicted the father, two brothers, one cousin and ex-husband of the victim for murder, torture and terrorism," investigator Mian Zulfiqar told the AFP news agency.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanded "immediate action" over the murder, which drew international criticism.
The US described the killing in May as heinous while UN human rights chief Navi Pillay described it as "deeply shocking".
There are hundreds of so-called "honour killings" in Pakistan each year.
Arranged marriages are the norm in Pakistan and marrying against the wishes of the family is unthinkable in many deeply conservative communities.
Ms Parveen came from a small town outside Lahore. According to reports, her family was furious because she decided to marry Muhammad Iqbal instead of a man they had chosen.
Her relatives then filed a case for abduction against Mr Iqbal at the High Court.
Honour killings in Pakistan
• In 2013, 869 women murdered in so called "honour killings"
• Campaigners say real number is likely to be much higher
• Of these, 359 were so called "Karo Kari" cases, where family members consider themselves authorised to kill offending relatives to restore honour
• Rights groups say conviction rate in cases of sexual and other violence against women is "critically low"
Source: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan annual report 2013
The newlyweds were only at the Lahore court to contest the family's case. Ms Parveen had already testified to police that she had married of her own free will.
Mr Iqbal told the BBC that when the couple had arrived at the court on 27 May, his wife's relatives were waiting and tried to take her away.
 |
| Pakistani Police questioning witnesses |
I suspect that PM Sharif is hoping that attention will be drawn away since charges were laid. However, what is likely to happen is that the mother will forgive the murderers of her daughter and that will be the end of it. No prosecution, no jail time.
Sharif has to quickly put a law in place forbidding the escapement of punishment for honour-killings because they were forgiven. He has to reach the backward people stuck in the middle-ages and teach them that honour-killing is wrong - they don't know that.
Update: November 2014
4 of Ms Parveen's Murderers Sentenced to Death
A Pakistani court has given the death sentence to four people for bludgeoning to death a pregnant relative who had married without their consent.
Farzana Parveen, 30, was beaten with bricks and sticks in May outside Lahore's high court. Police deny charges they stood by as it happened.
Ms Parveen's father, brother, cousin and former fiancé were all found guilty of murder on Wednesday. Another brother got 10 years in jail.
The case sparked global outrage.
Ms Parveen had been at the high court to defend her husband in a case brought against him by her relatives. They accused Muhammad Iqbal of abducting her. Ms Parveen had already testified to police that she had married of her own free will.
According the police, a scuffle took place between about 20 members of Ms Parveen's family and 10-15 of Mr Iqbal's, during which she was struck with a brick three times and fatally wounded. He managed to escape.
Police say that Ms Parveen was dead by the time officers were able to intervene.
Court officials say the defendants will have the right to appeal in Lahore's high court.
The BBC's Shaimaa Khalil in Islamabad says Farzana Parveen's death by stoning in broad daylight outside a court is shocking even by the standards of Pakistan, where so-called honour killings are common.
Our correspondent says death sentences for family members in such cases are unusual, but many are saying there is a chance Farzana Parveen's relatives could walk free or have their sentences reduced on appeal.
Usually, all they need is for a family member to forgive them for her murderers to go free. They won't have any trouble finding someone to do that, then Farzana just becomes another statistic, another honour-killing without justice.
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