Pakistan 'honour' killing: Woman shot seven times, man nine times

Dubai: A horrifying case of ‘honour’ killing near Quetta city of Pakistan has triggered widespread outrage across Pakistan after a video went viral showing a man and a woman being dragged into a remote area and executed at point-blank range.

The incident occurred last month in the Degari area, a coal-mining region on the outskirts of Balochistan’s capital, where a tribal jirga allegedly sentenced the couple to death for having a relationship outside marriage. The man who shot and killed the woman was her brother, according to police.

It was reported that the woman and the man had contracted a love marriage, and they were invited by their families on the pretext of a feast, where they were informed about the decision of the jirga.

According to police surgeon Dr Ayesha, autopsies conducted after exhuming the bodies revealed the woman had been shot seven times, and the man nine times.

The video, which surfaced shortly after Eid-Al Adha, shocked the nation. It shows armed men forcibly removing the couple from a vehicle and executing them in a desolate desert area. Investigations revealed the man who pulled the trigger on the woman was her own brother, while members of both families and tribes were complicit in the killings.

State response

Following public outcry, a case was registered under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code including Section 302 (murder) as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act. The FIR was lodged by the state.

So far, at least 14 suspects have been arrested, including Sherbaz Khan Satakzai, a tribal elder accused of ordering the killings. He is currently in police custody under physical remand. Authorities say more raids are underway.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killings as “barbaric,” announcing the suspension of the local DSP for failing to report the incident. “No one has the right to kill another human being in such a brutal way, and then record it on video,” Bugti said during a press conference. “We are committed to ensuring justice through the courts.”

Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Rozi Khan Barrech also took suo motu notice of the killings, summoning the province’s top security officials to court.

What is an ‘honour’ killing?

So-called honour killings are acts of murder, usually of women, committed by family members who believe the victim has brought shame or dishonour to the family through actions such as choosing her own partner, having an extramarital relationship, or even being a victim of assault.

Although Pakistani law was amended in 2016 to close legal loopholes that allowed perpetrators to go free with family forgiveness, implementation remains weak. Section 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code allows state intervention in ‘fasad-fil-arz’ (mischief on Earth), but courts rarely override settlements between the perpetrators and victims’ families leading to a culture of impunity.

The Degari murders have reignited a fierce debate in Pakistan over tribal justice, gender-based violence, and the slow pace of legal reform. While authorities have moved swiftly in this case, activists warn that unless systemic issues like parallel justice systems and societal acceptance of “honour” as motive are addressed, such tragedies will persist.

According to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) data, 346 people were killed in honour-related crimes in Pakistan from January to November 2024.

Recent major honour killing incidents

Jaffarabad, Balochistan (2025): A young woman and her partner were executed by family members for marrying without consent; a video of the murder went viral.

Attock, Punjab (2025): A woman, mother to an infant, was shot dead by her husband and father-in-law over allegations of ‘character issues.’

Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2025): A couple suspected of illicit relations were murdered by community members for violating communal honour.

Kohistan Video Case (2012—2023): A long-delayed case where girls filmed clapping in a wedding video were allegedly killed; the case saw years of cover-ups and trials.

Samia Shahid (2016): A British-Pakistani woman was murdered in Punjab in what was described as an honour killing orchestrated by her family.