Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti confirmed on Sunday that a case has been registered and a suspect arrested following a harrowing video circulating on social media showing the brutal murder of a couple in what appears to be another so-called ‘honour’ killing.
The disturbing footage, which went viral across platforms, shows armed men dragging a man and a woman into a desert area—believed to be in Balochistan—before opening fire and shooting them multiple times. The victims, reportedly in a relationship, were murdered just days before Eidul Azha.
CM Bugti, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said the Balochistan Police acted immediately after the video surfaced. “A terrorism case has been filed on behalf of the state. One suspect has already been arrested and the law will take its course in this heinous matter,” he wrote.
State Steps In Amid Silence from Families
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, speaking at the Karachi Press Club, said neither of the victims’ families had come forward to report the crime. “Despite that, the state has registered the case and taken full ownership of the investigation,” he stated.
Rind revealed that the individuals and tribes involved had been identified, although names are being withheld for strategic reasons. “We are working with NADRA to trace those visible in the video,” he added, confirming that one arrest had been made and several raids were ongoing.
He also assured that anyone involved—whether killers or those who facilitated the act through a tribal jirga—would face strict legal consequences.
Political Leaders Condemn ‘Honour’ Crime
Political and human rights leaders across Pakistan have denounced the incident. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari labelled the perpetrators “beasts” and urged the government to treat the case as a “test of justice”, calling it a clear example of gender-based violence.
He emphasized that Islam permits women to marry by choice, and that the Constitution guarantees protection of this right. Senator Sherry Rehman also issued a strong statement, calling it “an unforgivable crime” and demanding urgent reforms to end “barbaric tribal practices.”
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif pointed to broader issues in Balochistan, urging residents to confront local injustices rather than externalizing blame. “The real oppressors are often from within,” he said, linking the tragedy to a wider pattern of violence and impunity in the region.
Activists Demand Cultural Shift
Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch expressed heartbreak over the killing, calling on tribal elders and society at large to respect women’s autonomy. “Today’s women are educated and aware—they deserve the right to make decisions about their future,” she said in a heartfelt message.
She urged for a transparent and complete investigation so that justice can be served and future acts of this kind are prevented.
A National Crisis
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reports that 346 people were killed in the name of ‘honour’ in 2024 alone, with Sindh and Punjab seeing the highest numbers. Rights advocates say these killings reflect deep-seated cultural beliefs around family ‘honour’ and women’s autonomy.
The repeated occurrence of such killings has ignited calls for legal reforms, better enforcement, and societal change to eliminate the toxic notion that murder can be justified by cultural or tribal codes.
