In another incident of so-called honour killing that has plagued Pakistan, a 16-year-old was murdered by her uncle in a village in Vehari district of Punjab, reported Aaj News on Monday.

As per details, the teenage girl had run away from her house but she was brought back after a few days with the intervention of relatives.

Upon her return last night, the girl's uncle, identified as Raees, opened fire on her. She was killed on the spot and while the accused was able to flee the scene.

On receiving information, police reached the crime scene and transferred the body to a hospital for medico-legal formalities.

According to Human Rights Watch, almost 1,000 women are murdered in Pakistan in the name of honour each year — killed on the grounds of ‘unacceptable’ amorous relationships, defiance of physical or cyber-gendered spaces, brazenness in dressing and language or perceived immorality.

In one of the most high-profile such cases, social media star Qandeel Baloch, was strangled to death by her brother in 2016. The brother described her suggestive behaviour on social media as "intolerable". He was sentenced to life in prison for strangling Baloch.

However, the court freed him in February 2021 after ruling it was not an "honour killing". This allowed his pardon by the mother to permit his release.

Pakistan had passed legislation in 2016 mandating life in prison for honour killings, supposedly closing a loophole that allowed families to pardon the crime.