Islamabad, 21 July — A statement by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on X has led to the arrest of 11 suspects, including Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai a tribal leader, for their alleged involvement in the killing of a couple in Balochistan.
Chief Minister Bugti stated that a full investigation is underway and all responsible parties will be prosecuted. The government has taken the unusual step of acting as the complainant, as the families of the victims initially did not report the killings.
According to police, the suspects were arrested in the Dagari area on the outskirts of Quetta. A video of the killings went viral on social media, prompting public outrage. The case has now been handed over to the Serious Crimes Investigation Wing (SCIW).
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while condemning the killings, called the suspects “beasts,” saying they deserved no concessions. “I have faith that the criminals involved in this murder will be brought to justice soon,” he said. “This murder should be a test case for the Balochistan government, as it is gender terrorism,” he added.
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned the murders in a post on X, calling it an “unforgivable crime.”
“Crushing the right to marry is a violation of fundamental human rights. Killing in the name of tribal decisions is a despicable act. The cycle of brutality in the name of honour must be stopped,” she wrote.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif shared the video on X, addressing the people of Balochistan. “Those who have taken up arms against the state — start by raising your voice against the unjust system that surrounds you,” he said.
READ MORE: Noor Bano Shot 8 Times, Ehsanullah Shot 9 Times
He added that those responsible for this “oppression are your own brothers, not the travellers and labourers from other provinces.”
Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch decried the killings as an ‘honour’ crime and appealed to Baloch elders to “respect women’s decisions.”
“As a woman, this chilling incident is deeply painful and heart-wrenching for me,” she wrote on X. “Killing any woman in the name of honour is not only a heinous crime but also the worst humiliation of humanity.”
She demanded a transparent and comprehensive investigation, calling for the suspects to be brought to justice so that “no one dares to repeat such a barbaric act in the future.”
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 405 “honour” killings were reported in 2024. Most of the victims were women, and the perpetrators were typically family members claiming to protect their family’s reputation.
