'No one has the right' Balochistan honour killing sparks global outrage: 14 arrested, including tribal chief, in brutal double murder
PTC Web Desk: A harrowing case of honour killing in Pakistan's Balochistan province has shocked the nation and drawn global resentment. As many as 14 persons, including a tribal chief, have been arrested after a couple was brutally executed for allegedly having an extramarital relationship.
The authorities confirmed that the couple was earlier reported to have married without their families’ consent. However, recent findings suggest they were accused of maintaining a relationship outside wedlock, despite having children from separate marriages.
The horrific incident came to light after a disturbing video surfaced online, showing the woman being shot in the back at close range—allegedly by her own brother—followed by the killing of the man beside her. The footage further reveals other men firing at the lifeless bodies, intensifying public outrage.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, addressing the media in Quetta, condemned the crime in strong terms. “No one has the right, under any circumstance, to take a life in such a cruel and barbaric manner—and then to film it. This is cold-blooded murder,” he stated.
Bugti said the government would ensure justice was served, and all those involved would be prosecuted. Provincial Police Chief Moazzam Jah Ansari identified Sher Baz Satakzai, the tribal leader of the area, as the one who sanctioned the killings. Satakzai is among the 14 suspects arrested so far.
In response to the case, a local court has ordered the exhumation of the victims' bodies for a post-mortem examination to aid the investigation.
This incident adds to a growing number of such killings in Pakistan. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 405 so-called honour killings were recorded in 2024 alone. Human rights advocates criticise the authorities for not doing enough to prevent such acts, where family members—often male—murder women under the pretext of preserving family honour.
- With inputs from agencies
