Exhumation Ordered in Balochistan ‘Honor Killing’ Case

A judicial magistrate in Quetta has mandated the exhumation of a woman’s remains after she was murdered in an alleged honor killing. The crime occurred in Dagari, a region on the outskirts of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.

The exhumation process is being conducted under the direct supervision of the judicial magistrate.

The case garnered widespread attention when a video circulated on social media, depicting a group of men forcibly removing a couple from a vehicle and taking them to a desert location, where they were subsequently shot.

Balochistan’s Chief Minister, taking swift action, stated via social media platform X that a terrorism case had been filed, and eleven individuals have been taken into custody. The operation is ongoing, and all perpetrators will be brought to justice. He affirmed the government’s support for the victims.

Furthering the investigation, police apprehended two additional suspects, including the primary suspect, on Monday.

A formal complaint was lodged by the state, leading to the registration of a case at Quetta’s Hanna-Urak Police Station.

The First Information Report (FIR) indicates that the case is registered under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 149 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), and 147 (rioting), as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.

In a related development, a Quetta court remanded Sardar Sherbaz Khan, a suspect, to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing for one day of physical custody to aid in the ongoing inquiry.

The Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) has taken cognizance of the incident and has summoned the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Balochistan for a hearing.

Earlier, a Balochistan government spokesperson, Shahid Rind, addressed the press, noting that personnel from the provincial police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were active in the area.

Rind mentioned that neither of the families involved reported the incident. Consequently, the state has become the complainant to ensure legal action against those responsible.

The authorities have submitted data to the National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify individuals featured in the video. Additionally, the excise department is assisting in tracing the motorcycle used, based on its license plate number.

The spokesperson disclosed that tribes and persons had been traced but their identities would remain confidential.

Throughout 2024, honor killings have remained a persistent issue in Pakistan, disproportionately affecting women.

According to a report by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), there were thousands of cases of domestic violence, hundreds of honor killings, and numerous rape incidents reported across Pakistan. Conviction rates for these crimes remain critically low.

From January to November, hundreds of individuals were victims of honor crimes across the nation. The past two years have shown an increase in murders linked to honor.

In 2023, the country reported a substantial number of honor killing incidents, while in 2022, a significant number of people were killed in connection to honor killings.