Honour killing video in Pakistan goes viral: eleven arrests
The murder, which took place on the outskirts of Quetta, involved a couple that married for love, a union not accepted by the bride’s family. A local tribal council "allowed" the crime. The bride and groom were shot 19 and 38 times respectively. In 2024, at least 346 such cases were reported in the country. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (PPP) says no to reduced sentences. The Supreme Court Bar Association laments that women suffer the brunt of this form of violence.
Quetta (AsiaNews) – The chilling video of a couple's honour killing in Pakistan has sparked widespread outrage. The murder took place on the outskirts of Quetta, in an area known as the Sanjdi Deghari coal mines, Balochistan province.
The couple wed a year and a half ago in a love marriage not accepted by the bride’s tribal community. According to several witnesses, she was shot 19 times, her husband 38 times.
Although “allowed” last month by a local tribal council, the honour killing was widely condemned, and more and more Pakistanis are calling for an end to this form of brutality, placing the value of life back at the centre.
After their wedding, the couple found refuge in a safe place. But a year and a half later, her family invited the couple to dinner, proposing a compromise. The two arrived, unaware of their fate.
In the video, which went viral, the focus is primarily on the woman, surrounded by dozens of men who drove her to a deserted location in several vehicles. Dressed in a simple traditional dress, with a dupattā (a long shawl-like scarf) on her head, she can be seen walking calmly ahead of them.
She holds the Holy Qur‘an in her hand, which she hands to one of the men and says in the Brahvi language: "You are only allowed to shoot me."
Then, she stands aside, away from the group, with her back turned toward them. They shoot her three times; after she falls to the ground, more shots are fired at her, clearly visible in the video.
On Sunday, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti declared that the case was registered and the personal data of the suspects have been filed.
Eleven people were arrested in connection with the honour killing. Bugti, in a post on X, emphasised that the incident occurred a few days before this year's Eid al-Adha and that the victims have been identified.
Acknowledging that the video of the murder was broadly shared, he ordered the Balochistan police – which has jurisdiction over the incident since it occurred within the remit of the Zarghoon police station – to take immediate action.
The authorities registered the incident as a case of terrorism.
Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, stated during a meeting held yesterday at the Karachi Press Club that action is underway to prosecute those responsible, although the two affected families have not filed any complaints.
The tribes and individuals appearing in the video have been identified, but their names have not been released at this stage of the investigation.
The details of those present at the scene of the honour killing have been sent to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for verification and subsequent prosecution.
According to the 2024 Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report, honour killings continue to be a real problem across the country, with particularly high numbers in Sindh and Punjab.
From January to November 2024, a total of 346 people were victims of honour killings in the country. These numbers are believed to be an underestimation of the actual number of cases.
Several activists and political leaders have condemned the Quetta murders while the video was shared on social media.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), strongly condemned the incident. Calling the suspects "beasts", he said that they do not deserve any reduced sentence.
He also said that he was confident that the criminals involved in this murder would soon be brought to justice.
In a statement, Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP), also strongly condemned the brutal murder, calling it a tragic, heartbreaking episode in which an innocent woman was killed in an act condemnable of “honour killing”.
He went further, stressing that such acts represent the worst form of violence against women.
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07/02/2019 17:28
24/11/2023 15:00
