The Balochistan government on Sunday arrested a primary suspect and initiated raids to nab the remaining culprits after a video showing the ‘honor’ killing of a couple in the Dagari area of Quetta went viral on social media.
The incident reportedly occurred ahead of Eidul Azha. The video shows a group of people shooting dead a man and a woman, allegedly on orders of a Jirga, after they contracted a love marriage in opposition to the wishes of the woman’s family.
“Slain persons are identified,” Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti wrote in a post on X, confirming the incident took place a few days before Eidul Azha. He said the state had registered a case under terrorism charges against the accused and vowed the law would take its course over the heinous crime. “The state will not remain a silent spectator to such barbarism,” he added.
In a subsequent post on X, he said 11 suspects were in custody, adding an operation to nab the rest was ongoing.
Officials have confirmed that the case was registered on behalf of the Balochistan government as no witness or relative of either the man or woman submitted any application to register a FIR.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the individuals in the video had been traced through facial recognition and NADRA data. “One suspect is in custody, and data of all visible individuals in the video has been handed over to NADRA. We are closing in on the rest,” he claimed.
According to Rind, the state has become the complainant to ensure accountability and justice. He maintained the government would not tolerate any external pressure on the matter.
Reportedly, the slain couple—Ehsan Samalani and Bano Satakzai—had married against their families’ wishes and the matter was taken to Jirga, which sentenced them to death. After the sentencing, Bano’s family invited the couple for lunch before taking them to a desolate location in Dagari, informing them of the sentence, and shooting them dead.
In the video, Bano can be heard speaking in Dari, telling her murderers that they are allowed to shoot her, but are barred from taking any further action. She then asked her killers to let walk a few steps before opening fire. Local media has reported her brother was among the killers and shot her before killing Samalani. It remains unclear what became of their bodies after their murders.
Condemning the killings, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose party rules Balochistan, expressed his grief and outrage over the incident. He said the culprits deserved no mercy.
Despite efforts to stem the practice, “honor” killings remain a significant threat in Pakistan. According to a 2024 report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization, January to November saw 346 people killed due for “honor.” Experts maintain the numbers are likely underreported.