The incident took place outside Quetta, the provincial capital, days before Eid al-Adha in May 2025. Videos of the killings, which have since gone viral, show a woman and a man being executed in a remote desert area while a crowd watches. The footage lead to widespread anger across the nation, says NDTV.
The victims have been identified by local police as Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah. Police say the couple was murdered after they allegedly married without the consent of the woman’s family. The killings were ordered by tribal elder Sardar Satakzai after the woman’s brother complained about the marriage, authorities say.
One video shows a group arriving in SUVs and pickup trucks, surrounding the area. A woman, her head covered, can be seen walking ahead after being handed a copy of the Quran. In the local dialect, she says, “Walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me.” The man walking behind her follows.
“You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that.” Then, he fires three shots at close range.
Another video shows the bodies of both victims lying on the ground as gunshots ring out and the crowd cheers. According to police, the footage is believed to depict the double killing that is now under investigation. CNN reported that Balochistan Chief Minister Safraz Bugti confirmed multiple arrests after the videos surfaced online.
Naveed Akhtar, a senior police official, said 13 people have been detained so far, including the tribal leader and the woman’s brother. Police also said the killings were prompted by the family’s objection to the marriage, which they considered an “illicit” relationship under tribal customs.
“Honor” killings remain a huge issue in Pakistan, especially in rural areas where tribal or cultural codes are enforced outside the official legal system. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, there were at least 405 reported “honor” killings in 2024
