BHC CJ notices ‘honor’ killing of pairs

Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Rozi Khan Barrch, has taken the Suo Motu message about the brutal killing of a man and a woman allegedly murdered in the name of honor after a video of the incident became viral on social media.

Chief Justice Barch has called on the additional chief secretary (home) and the police inspector to appear in court and give an information on the case on Tuesday.

The couple, which were not identified, were shot to death on orders from a local tribal council last month in Balochistan, according to provincial authorities investigating after the video became viral.

According to the police, a case has been registered in accordance with section 302 of the Pakistan Criminal Code and relevant sections of the anti-terrorist fighting.

FIR stated that the male and female victims were declared “Karokari” (an expression used for ‘honor killing’) in a tribe Jirga led by the tribe’s oldest Sardar Sherbaz Khan Satakzai. After the verdict, they were taken in vehicles to a remote area where they were shot to death.

The complainant about the case said the cruel act was filmed and circulated online, causing fear and panic among the public.

Read more: 11 arrested after pair shot to death in Balochistan over ‘honor’

Eleven suspects have been arrested, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said in a statement Monday, hours after announcing that the location and people in the video had been identified.

At a press conference, Bugti said both victims were already married to children. “The woman had five children and her husband’s name is noor,” he said. “The man was also married and had six children. There was no marital relationship between them.”

The Minister of the Ministry condemned the killings as “completely inhuman” and said that neither the state nor society would tolerate such acts. “Everyone involved will be arrested and brought to justice,” he added.

Bugti noted that the case had become viral online, which widespread the public’s interest and wrong information. “Many people report wrongly that the two were a newlywed couple. It is simply not true,” he said.

One of the most worrying aspects of the case, Bugti said, was the reluctance of someone to come forward and submit a first information report (FIR). “The parents and children of the victims are present, but no one registers a case,” he said.

“When the police try to investigate, men disappear from the area and women pelted stones at officers,” he added. He also revealed that the viral video of the killings was not leaked externally. “This video was not obtained from external sources. The killers themselves released it,” he said.

The government, he said, conducts a full investigation and intends to present the guilty of court soon. “This is an era where non -verified news is spreading quickly. I urge everyone to verify the facts before they are shared,” Bugti warned.

He also acknowledged that parallel justice systems still affect Pakistani society. “We are part of a culture where Jirgas [tribal courts] Operation still, “he said.” But the government takes constitutional actions against such systems. “