Balochistan 'honour' killings: Quetta court orders exhumation of woman's body

• FIR registered under ATA in Balochistan 'honour' killing incident.
• Magistrate court orders exhumation of woman's body.
• One-day physical remand of suspect Sardar Sherbaz Khan approved.

QUETTA: A judicial magistrate in Quetta on Monday ordered the exhumation of a woman’s body who was brutally killed in the name of so-called honour in Balochistan’s Dagari, situated on the outskirts of the provincial capital.

The couple, who have not been identified yet, were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal Jirga last month.

The incident gained national attention after a video went viral on social media, showing a group of men forcing a couple out of a vehicle and leading them into a desert, where they were shot at close range.

Taking immediate notice, Balochistan CM Bugti in a post on X, said that a case on terrorism charges was registered and 11 suspects had been arrested so far, adding that the operation was ongoing and all culprits would be brought to justice. “The state stands with the oppressed,” he declared.

However, the police on Monday claimed to have arrested two more people in the gruesome murder case, including the prime suspect.

A case was also registered against suspects on the state’s complaint at Quetta’s Hanna-Urak Police Station.

According to the FIR, the case was registered under Sections 302 (murder), 149 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 147 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Meanwhile, a local court in Quetta on Monday handed over suspect Sardar Sherbaz Khan to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing on a one-day physical remand for further interrogation in the murder case.

In a separate development, Balochistan High Court (BHC) chief justice has taken notice of the incident and has summoned the additional chief secretary (Home) and IGP Balochistan for tomorrow’s hearing.

'Dagari victims were not married'

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday termed the couple murder incident as “a test case” for the government and reaffirmed his commitment to provide justice to the victims.

“I am taking this matter as a test case,” CM Bugti said while addressing a press conference in Quetta.

CM Sarfraz Bugti further said that he had taken notice of the incident even before the graphic video of the alleged honour killing began circulating on social media.

“So far, 11 suspects have been arrested, and raids are continuing to apprehend more individuals,” he said.

“Whoever is found involved will be arrested and presented before the court... regardless of their status,” he stated.

“I will not engage in victim-blaming... all our sympathies are with the victims,” he added.

Addressing speculation that the murdered man and woman were a newlywed couple, the chief minister clarified that they were not married.

“Contrary to what was circulating on social media, the two were not in a marital relationship... infact, the woman was the mother of five children,” he claimed.

Commenting on traditional jirga practices, Bugti said the government would not promote tribal jirgas. “There are many such jirgas taking place. We are stopping them, and we will not support any parallel system of justice. We must adhere to the Constitution,” he added.

In Pakistan, 'honour' killings continued to claim the lives of women throughout 2024.

According to the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) 2024 report 'Mapping Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Pakistan', 2,238 cases of domestic violence, 547 cases of honour killings and 5,339 cases of rape were reported across the country, while conviction rates stood below 2% for each of these crimes.

From January to November, a total of 346 people fell victim to 'honour' crimes in the country. The previous two years also saw a consistent rise in murders related to the so-called 'honour'.

In 2023, the country saw a total of 490 'honour' killing incidents taking place, while in 2022, as many as 590 people lost their lives to 'honour' killing.