A video showing the alleged honour killing of a man and woman in Balochistan gone viral on social media. Following the viral footage, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti took notice and ordered the immediate arrest of all suspects involved.
According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, the Chief Minister directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a complete investigation and identify the exact location of the incident. Authorities have been instructed to arrest all involved individuals and ensure legal punishment under applicable laws.
The Chief Minister stated that no individual will be allowed to challenge the state’s writ and no one will be allowed to take the law into their hands.
Honour Killing Cases in Balochistan – 2024 Data
According to a report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), there were 547 honour killings reported in the whole of Pakistan, in 2024. Among them, 32 were reported in Balochistan. There was only a single case of conviction in Balochistan.
Another report issued by the SSDO indicated 398 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in Balochistan during the year 2024:
- 32 honour killings
- 21 rape cases
- 185 abduction incidents
- 160 domestic violence cases
As per the 2024 report published by Aurat Foundation, province Balochistan has registered 73 cases of violence on women, of which 43 were the murders and 7 cases of rape. Of these, 19 murders were honour based.
According to the government of Balochistan, what can be seen in the viral video is inadmissible and will be punished by the law. CM Bugti directed officials to undertake all measures of suspect identification, arrest as well as taking legal action immediately.
The citizens were asked to assist the investigation by naming persons spotted in the video. The case brings out the rise in honour killings in Pakistan and the loopholes in their access to justice.
