A chilling video showing the execution-style murder of a couple accused of having an affair has triggered nationwide condemnation and prompted swift police action in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. The graphic footage, which went viral on social media platforms last week, depicts the cold-blooded killing of Bano Bibi and Ehsan Ullah Samalani in a remote desert location.
Police have arrested 16 suspects, including tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Khan, following the public outcry over what authorities describe as a brutal honour killing carried out on the orders of a traditional tribal council. The arrests represent one of the most significant crackdowns on honour-based violence in the region in recent years.
Video Reveals Horrific Final Moments
The disturbing footage shows several men arriving in pickup trucks at a mountainous desert site near Quetta, Balochistan’s capital. In the video, Bano Bibi is seen holding a copy of the Quran before walking seven steps away from the vehicles, her final words reportedly being: “Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me.”
A man identified by police as her brother, Jalal Satakzai, then shoots her three times in the back before she collapses. He subsequently kills Ehsan Ullah Samalani before other men join in shooting both victims’ motionless bodies.
Post-mortem examinations revealed the extent of the brutality. Dr Ayesha Faiz, police surgeon at Sandeman Civil Hospital in Quetta, confirmed that Bano Bibi was shot seven times whilst Ehsan Ullah sustained nine bullet wounds. The killings took place on 4th June 2025, though the video only surfaced publicly in recent days.
Official Response and Investigation
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the murders as “intolerable” and a “blatant violation of social values and human dignity.” He immediately ordered arrests following the video’s circulation, declaring: “No one has a right, no matter what, to kill someone in such a painful and disgusting way, and then video shoot it. It is a crime. It is a murder.”
According to the First Information Report filed by police, the couple was allegedly brought before local tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Khan, who declared them guilty of engaging in an “immoral relationship” and ordered their execution. Police revealed that the victims were invited under the pretence of lunch, where they were informed of the tribal council’s deadly verdict.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted the chief minister, directing that all perpetrators be brought to justice. The government filed the case itself after the affected families initially refused to lodge an FIR.
Challenging Misconceptions
Chief Minister Bugti clarified widespread misinformation surrounding the case. “The woman and man weren’t married. The woman had five children, and the man, aged around 45 to 50, also had four or five children,” he explained, contradicting earlier reports suggesting they were newlyweds.
The victims were both married to other people and had been accused of conducting an extramarital affair. However, officials emphasised that regardless of the circumstances, no justification existed for the brutal killings.
Broader Context of Honour Violence
The Balochistan tragedy highlights Pakistan’s persistent struggle with honour-based violence. 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” – 32 of them in Balochistan with only one resulting in conviction.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported at least 405 honour killings in 2024, though experts believe the actual figure is significantly higher due to underreporting and cases classified as accidents or suicides.
Rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch, representing a Baloch women’s rights group, described the systemic nature of the problem: “In Balochistan, women are murdered for love, disappeared for protest, and buried under layers of tribal authority and state-backed silence. These are not isolated tragedies. They are the cost of a system designed to keep Balochistan obedient, and its women expendable.”
Legal Framework and Enforcement Challenges
Pakistan outlawed honour killings in 2016 after the murder of social media star Qandeel Baloch, closing a loophole that allowed perpetrators to go free if they were pardoned by family members. However, enforcement remains problematic, particularly in remote tribal areas where traditional councils continue to operate parallel justice systems.
Harris Khalique, general secretary 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 and ensure the right to life of its citizens, has protected the tribal chiefs and feudal lords who guard such practices to perpetuate their power over local people and resources.”
The Balochistan High Court has taken suo motu notice of the case, with Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Barrech summoning the chief secretary and Inspector General of Police to appear before the court.
Public and Political Reaction
The viral video has generated unprecedented public outrage, with hashtags such as #JusticeForCouple and #HonourKilling trending across social media platforms. Civil society activists staged protests in Quetta on Saturday, demanding justice and an end to parallel judicial systems.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the perpetrators as “nothing less than beasts and deserve no mercy,” calling the incident “gender terrorism” that should serve as a test case for the provincial government.
The Pakistan Ulema Council, a body of religious scholars, called the killings “un-Islamic” and urged terrorism charges against those involved.
Regional and Cultural Dynamics
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populous province, remains afflicted by deep-rooted tribal customs and decades of conflict between the government and ethnic Baloch separatists. The province’s mineral wealth contrasts starkly with its governance challenges, as traditional power structures often supersede state authority.
Cultural anthropologist Arsalan Khan noted the complex dynamics at play: “Virality is a double-edged sword. It can pressure the state into action, but public spectacle can also serve as a strategy to restore ghairat, or perceived family honour, in the eyes of the community.”
Path Forward
Chief Minister Bugti has declared this case a “test” for his administration, vowing to dismantle illegal tribal courts operating outside Pakistani law. The case has been transferred to the Special Court for the Investigation of Crimes Against Women, signalling the government’s intention to pursue maximum penalties.
However, rights advocates argue that sustainable change requires addressing systemic issues. Human rights defender Tahira Abdullah highlighted several societal factors driving increased gender-based violence, including honour killings, pointing to the need for comprehensive reform beyond individual prosecutions.
The Balochistan tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Pakistan, where centuries-old traditions continue to clash with modern legal frameworks and human rights principles.
As investigations continue, the main accused, including Bano Bibi’s brother Jalal Satakzai, remain at large. Police operations are ongoing to apprehend all individuals identified in the viral footage that shocked a nation and demanded justice for the victims of this heinous crime.
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