KARACHI, July 28 (Reuters) – A harrowing video showing the cold-blooded killing of a woman, Bano Bibi, and her alleged lover, Ehsan Ullah Samalani, in the name of “honour” has triggered nationwide outrage and reignited scrutiny of tribal justice systems in Pakistan. The footage, which went viral on social media, shows Bano being handed a Quran by her brother before being shot multiple times in the back. Seconds later, Ehsan is also killed. The act was reportedly ordered by a jirga — an informal tribal council — in Balochistan’s Nasirabad district.
The incident, believed to have occurred months ago, only received attention after public pressure mounted following the video’s circulation. Civil rights activists and political leaders condemned the brutal executions, with many questioning the state’s continued tolerance of parallel justice systems in under-governed regions. Authorities have since arrested 16 individuals, including the woman’s mother and a tribal chief, though the main shooter — Bano’s younger brother — remains at large.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has vowed strict action, calling it a “test case” for dismantling extrajudicial jirgas. Rights bodies, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, reported over 400 honour killings in 2024 alone. While honour killings were outlawed in 2016, enforcement remains alarmingly weak, especially in rural areas where tribal customs prevail.
Legal experts warn that without sustained legal reforms and state writ, such viral incidents may spark temporary uproar but result in little justice. Protests in Quetta, widespread digital condemnation, and trending hashtags like #JusticeForCouple have amplified calls for accountability, but activists fear the public’s attention will soon wane — as it has in countless past cases.
Analysts argue that the state’s failure to fully outlaw jirgas and protect women in provinces like Balochistan reflects a broader crisis of governance. As human rights lawyer Jalila Haider aptly put it, “Condemnation isn’t enough. The real question is: why does the state continue to allow these parallel systems to exist?”
