QUETTA:
A horrifying video emerged on social media on Sunday, depicting the brutal killing of a man and a woman in Balochistan, in the name of so-called honour, sending shockwaves across the country and beyond.
As the video spread like wildfire, the public recoiled in disbelief. The graphic images sparked immediate outrage, igniting a firestorm of condemnation from civil society, religious scholars, and political leaders alike.
The victims, whose identities were not immediately known, were allegedly targeted by their own family or community members — a grim reminder of the archaic and deadly tradition of honour killings that continues to plague parts of Pakistan.
The video purportedly showed that a few armed men were apparently shooting and killing a man and a woman publically. In this video, all the people were speaking in the Brahui language and their accent was the same as that spoken in different areas of Quetta and Mastung, according to BBC.
The video is apparently made in a mountainous area where there is a desert around a dirt road. In the beginning, several vehicles and Jeeps can be seen in broad daylight, outside of which there are several people.
Apparently, these men ask a woman dressed in a red dress and a wheatish chador to stand some distance from the vehicles. During this, the woman could be heard in Brahui that “only shooting is allowed, nothing else”. The woman did not resist, rather stood quietly away from the vehicles.
After this conversation, a few shots were also fired one by one. According to BBC, it was not clear in the video whether the man or the woman was shot first, however, after the first round of shots, a voice is heard saying “kill Him,” which is followed by the sound of multiple shots.
Talking to the media at the Karachi Press Club, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that the incident took place in Balochistan, but did not say when and where in the province. He revealed that one accused had been arrested.
“The names of the deceased have been obtained, and the tribes they belonged to, but these cannot be disclosed at this time,” he said. Their bodies had not yet been recovered, he continued, saying further that their relatives had not filed any police case.
“The pictures of those seen in the video were given to Nadra [National Database and Registration Authority] and with their help one of the accused is arrested. Raids are being conducted to arrest the other accused,” Rind said.
“Initially, this incident seemed to be taking place on Eidul Azha [which was celebrated in June] but we cannot confirm it yet. Both the families of the murdered persons have not filed any police report, therefore, now a case has been registered on the government’s complaint,” Rind said.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the incident, ordering a thorough investigation and a detailed report on the matter. He ordered law-enforcement agencies to arrest all perpetrators without delay.
“The rule of law will not be compromised. Those who challenge the writ of the state will be dealt with firmly. No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” Bugti said in a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Rind assured the public that the provincial government would take all legal steps to ensure justice is served. “The Balochistan government will not remain a silent spectator in the face of such cruelty. All legal means will be used to bring those responsible to justice,” Rind said.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has also appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the suspects. Citizens are being urged to share any information that may help in locating the individuals involved.
