QUETTA/KARACHI: The police have confirmed that 13 people, including the main suspect, have been arrested in connection with a brutal honour killing in Balochistan. The shocking video of the murder of a man and a woman has gone viral online. Authorities say the investigation is underway, and more arrests are expected soon.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced on X that the victims had been identified. He stated that the tragic incident occurred just days before Eid ul Adha. “A case has been registered under terrorism charges. The law will take its full course against this heinous act,” he assured.
Social media users allege the killings were motivated by so-called honour. However, officials have not yet verified the authenticity of the video or the full details of the incident. In a later update, CM Bugti confirmed that 11 suspects had initially been taken into custody. “Operations are ongoing, and every culprit will face justice. The state stands with the oppressed,” he declared.
At a press briefing at the Karachi Press Club, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind revealed that provincial police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) teams were active in the area. He noted that both families had chosen not to report the murders, forcing the state to act as the complainant. “The victims’ bodies have not been found yet,” Rind added.
Authorities have sought help from the National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify individuals seen in the video. The excise department was also contacted to trace the motorcycle used in the crime through its number plate. According to Rind, tribal affiliations and personal identities linked to the suspects have been traced but remain confidential “due to operational strategy.”
Pakistan continues to struggle with honour killings. The Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) reported in its 2024 review on gender-based violence that 547 honour crimes were recorded nationwide. The same report highlighted 2,238 incidents of domestic abuse and 5,339 cases of rape, with conviction rates for all categories staying below 2%.
From January to November 2024, at least 346 people lost their lives to honour-related murders in Pakistan. Statistics also reveal an alarming upward trend. In 2023, there were 490 such killings, while in 2022 the toll reached 590 lives.
