Pakistani police have arrested at least 13 suspects after a young couple were shot dead at close range in broad daylight in what authorities are calling another “honour killing” in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province. The brutal executions, captured on video and widely shared on social media, have triggered nationwide outrage and renewed calls for action against such violence.
The victims, identified by police as Bano Bibi and her husband Ehsan Ullah, were killed on the orders of a tribal elder after the woman’s brother complained they had married without family approval. The disturbing footage shows the couple being confronted by armed men in a remote mountainous area before being gunned down as onlookers watched in silence.
In the video, the young bride can be heard speaking in the local language, insisting she is legally married. “Come, walk seven steps with me, and then you can only shoot me,” she says moments before being shot three times at point-blank range.
Mass Arrests Following Viral Video
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that 13 individuals, including tribal elder Sardar Satakzai who allegedly ordered the killings, have been arrested following raids across the region. Nine additional suspects remain at large, according to police.
“A case has been registered under terrorism charges,” Bugti said in a statement on Sunday. “Law will take its course in this heinous matter.”
The incident occurred in May near the Sanjdi Deghari coal mines in the outskirts of Quetta, but only came to public attention when the video went viral over the weekend. Authorities believe the footage was filmed and posted online by one of the perpetrators.
Police official Syed Suboor Agha told Al Jazeera that investigations are ongoing and more arrests are likely, including Bano’s brother who is suspected of involvement and “is still at large.
Defiance in Final Moments
The video shows armed men arriving in pickup trucks before leading the couple out of vehicles. After Bano Bibi is shot, her husband is similarly executed, with a second gunman stepping forward to empty his weapon into the already lifeless groom.
Human rights activist Farhatullah Babar praised the young woman’s courage in her final moments. “The bravery shown by the slain woman is both humbling and remarkable, as she neither begged for her life nor showed any weakness,” he said.
Babar called for those involved in the “brutal murder of the newlywed couple” to face the harshest punishment possible under Pakistani law.
State Acting as Complainant
In an unusual move, the government has taken the step of acting as the complainant in the case, as no family members have come forward to report the murders. This silence speaks volumes in a country where honour killings remain disturbingly common.
The Serious Crimes Investigation Wing has taken over the case, with suspects appearing before judicial magistrates on Monday. The first information report filed by police names eight suspects whilst listing 15 other unidentified individuals involved in the incident.
“Such brutal acts are intolerable,” said Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind. “These criminals will be brought to justice. The brutality shown in the video is inhumane – no one can be allowed to take the law into their own hands.”
Persistent Problem Despite Laws
Pakistan has a grim record on honour killings, with hundreds of women murdered annually for perceived violations of family or tribal honour. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported 405 honour killings in 2024 alone, predominantly targeting women.
According to the Sustainable Social Development Organisation, more than 32,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported nationwide in 2024, including 547 instances of honour killings. Only one resulted in conviction in Balochistan province.
Honour killings have no connection with Balochi culture, or with any religious tradition,” said Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan. “Nor are they in any way permissible or acceptable under the law or the Constitution of Pakistan.”
Calls for Urgent Action
The incident has prompted widespread condemnation from politicians, civil society activists, and human rights groups. PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman labelled it an “unforgivable crime” and called for an end to tribal councils that prescribe such killings.
“Crushing the right to marry is a violation of fundamental human rights,” Rehman wrote on social media. “The chapter of oppression and barbarism under the guise of jirgas must be closed.”
Rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch said killing of women has become “a matter of routine” in Balochistan. “In Balochistan, women are murdered for love, disappeared for protest, and buried under layers of tribal authority and state-backed silence,” she told Al Jazeera.
International Concern
The United Nations Population Fund estimates that up to 5,000 women are killed globally each year in the name of “honour,” though experts believe many cases go unreported or are classified as suicides or accidents.
Harris Khalique of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said the killings confirm the “tyranny of medieval practices” still entrenched in many parts of Pakistan. The state, instead of establishing the rule of law, has protected the tribal chiefs and feudal lords who guard such practices,” he said.
Despite a 2016 law that closed loopholes allowing family members to pardon perpetrators, honour killings continue across Pakistan. In January, a Pakistani father was arrested for allegedly murdering his 15-year-old daughter, a US citizen, for refusing to stop posting on TikTok.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
