Honor Killing of Newlywed Couple Leads to 11 Arrests in Pakistan
In a deeply disturbing case that has sparked national and international outrage, 11 people have been arrested in Pakistan following the honor killing of a couple in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province. The brutal incident, captured in a widely circulated video, shows a man and woman—allegedly in a romantic relationship—being executed by a group of armed men in a remote area near Quetta.
The victims were initially believed to be a newlywed couple, but provincial officials later clarified that they were both already married to other individuals and had children. The woman, Bano Bibi, was a mother of five, and the man, Ahsan Ullah, was reportedly a father as well. Their relationship was considered a violation of tribal codes of conduct, leading to a so-called “honor” killing sanctioned by a local jirga, or tribal council.
The viral video, which shocked the public, shows the woman holding a copy of the Quran while speaking to the killers in Brahavi—a local language—pleading for her life but ultimately accepting her fate. She tells them to “walk seven steps with me, then shoot me,” emphasizing that only she should be killed, not others. Moments later, both she and the man are shot multiple times at close range, collapsing to the ground.
Following the public outcry, law enforcement and provincial authorities launched a manhunt that resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects, including a tribal leader believed to have ordered the killings. The government of Balochistan has declared the incident a “test case” and vowed to pursue justice under anti-terrorism laws, even though no formal complaint was filed by the victims’ families—a common obstacle in such cases.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killings and suspended a local police officer for failing to report the incident. He emphasized that the provincial government acted proactively before the video gained widespread attention, signaling a new zero-tolerance approach to such crimes. Authorities are now seeking an additional nine suspects who remain at large.
This case has brought renewed attention to the grim reality of honor killings in Pakistan. According to human rights organizations, hundreds of people—mostly women—are murdered each year in the name of family or tribal honor. Despite legal reforms, enforcement remains weak, especially in rural areas where tribal justice systems continue to operate outside state control.
Activists have praised the woman’s calm bravery in the face of death and demanded swift justice for both victims. They argue that the state must take stronger steps to dismantle the parallel tribal justice systems that allow such killings to persist.
The Quetta killings are not just a tragedy but a reflection of the wider struggle in Pakistan to uphold the rule of law, protect women’s rights, and end the culture of impunity surrounding so-called honor crimes. Whether this case becomes a turning point or another forgotten outrage depends on how firmly the authorities follow through on their promises for justice.