Islamabad: Calling for strict action against "honour killings" of women, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today (Feb 10, 2004) said the culprits should be punished "most harshly" with the full force of law.

"We must deal with any culprits of honour killing most harshly with all the force available to the Government," Musharraf said addressing the third Summit of the First Ladies of the Regional Steering Committee for Advance of Rural and Island Women, Asia-Pacific region (RSCAP), being hosted by his wife Sehba Musharraf and attended by Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Haptullah.

He said the "Hudood Ordinance", introduced by previous military ruler Gen Zia-ul Haq in 1980s prescribing stringent legal conditions for women to prove incidence of rape and violence against them, needs to be reviewed with a national debate whether it confirmed to the teaching of Islam.

"We have to adhere to Quran and Sunnah and no Muslim can violate it," he said. But at the same time he called for review of the ordinance whether it was in accordance with the Islamic strictures and said the issue should be debated in all forums as well as a decision should be taken.

Similarly he said that the "honour killings" of women in Pakistan brought bad name to the country.

"The curse of honour killing is totally illegal," he said adding, "The society must not tolerate honour killings."