“HONOUR KILLING” OF NEWLYWED COUPLE LEADS TO 11 ARRESTS IN PAKISTAN
In a chilling case that has reignited national outrage over so-called “honour killings,” Pakistani authorities have arrested 11 people in connection with the brutal murder of a newlywed couple in the Punjab province. The victims, 22-year-old Shazia Bibi and 26-year-old Muhammad Irfan, were reportedly killed by family members after they defied traditional norms by marrying for love.
According to police, the couple eloped two months ago against the wishes of Shazia’s family, who had arranged a marriage for her with another man. The two were living in hiding in a rural district near Dera Ghazi Khan after marrying in a court ceremony. Their union, viewed as dishonourable by their families, led to escalating threats and eventually a coordinated plan to kill them.
Local authorities said the couple was lured back to their home village under false pretenses — allegedly told that their families had accepted the marriage and wished to reconcile. Instead, they were seized by relatives, tied up, and killed in what police are describing as a premeditated double murder.
“The nature of this crime is both brutal and deeply disturbing,” said Dera Ghazi Khan police chief Asad Mehmood during a press conference. “We have arrested 11 individuals, including the girl’s father, two brothers, uncles, and cousins. They will face the full force of the law.”
The killings have drawn widespread condemnation from rights groups and civil society activists across Pakistan. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released a statement calling the murders “a stain on our collective conscience” and urging the government to treat honour killings as serious crimes, without the possibility of pardon or familial forgiveness — a legal loophole often exploited in such cases.
Honour killings remain a persistent issue in Pakistan, despite the passage of legislation in 2016 aimed at closing legal loopholes that allowed perpetrators to walk free if “forgiven” by family members of the victim. Activists say enforcement remains weak, especially in rural and tribal areas, where deeply rooted patriarchal values continue to override the rule of law.
“This is not about honour — it is cold-blooded murder rooted in control, misogyny, and tradition,” said Farzana Bari, a leading women’s rights activist. “Until we treat it as such in every courtroom and police station, more lives will be lost.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killings, calling them “barbaric and unacceptable in any civilized society” and promised swift justice for the victims. He instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure no perpetrator escapes prosecution.
The case has sparked renewed debate over the need for social reform, better protection for women, and stronger legal action against gender-based violence in Pakistan. Social media has seen an outpouring of grief and anger under hashtags such as #JusticeForShaziaAndIrfan and #EndHonourKillings.
As the investigation proceeds, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing battle for women’s rights and personal freedom in parts of Pakistan, where love can still cost one their life.