A Pakistani man who murdered his daughter and her boyfriend in a so-called honour killing has been allowed to go free after he pardoned himself and his accomplices.

Faqeer Muhammad was accused of shooting dead his daughter Kiran Bibi and her alleged lover Ghulam Abbas, ‘to save family honour’ due to their relationship in Lahore in 2014.

He was then brought to court in Pakistan where he admitted the murder with his son, Muhammad Illyas, and nephew, Muhammad Tahir, also accused of abetting the double murders.

A Pakistani man who murdered his daughter and her boyfriend in a so-called honour killing has been allowed to go free after he pardoned himself and his accomplices (file picture)

But despite new laws in Pakistan stipulating that so-called honour killings should constitute life imprisonment, he and his family used a legal loophole meaning he and his accomplices walked free.

According to the Express Tribune, Muhammad and the daughter's mother Azmat Bibi were the legal heirs to the girl, meaning they could pardon anyone accused of killing her.

Mrs Bibi and another son then lodged an application to have Muhammad pardoned, which he agreed to and was accepted by the court as the new law cannot be applied retrospectively.

The court was told: 'The deceased, Kiran Bibi, was my real daughter. She was unmarried at the time of her murder. There are no other legal heirs of the deceased except her mother, Bushra Bibi, and me.

'I have forgiven the accused persons in the name of Almighty Allah, and have no objection to their acquittal. I also waive my right of Qisas (retribution) and Diyat (blood money).'

New laws on honour killing in Pakistan were approved after the outspoken social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch, pictured, was strangled by her brother

And even though the prosecution said they had evidence against Muhammad and his accomplices the case was dropped against them due to 'no chance of conviction.'

Court advocate Muhammad Qasim told the newspaper: 'It is astonishing that an accused is forgiving himself for murder charges. It is nothing but a joke with law.'

Last month Pakistan's parliament unanimously passed legislation saying honour killings should mean a life sentence - even if the victim's family forgives the killer.