QUETTA: In a tragic incident that has shocked the local community, a pregnant woman and her husband were brutally killed by her brothers in the Balochistan district of Nushki, reportedly over a dispute arising from their love marriage. The couple had married without the consent of their families, a decision that apparently fueled tensions leading to this fatal attack.
According to Levies officials, the victims were identified as Shoaib Khan, a resident of Panjgur, and his wife Benazir, originally from Hazarganji, Quetta. Shoaib, who hailed from Chatkan in Panjgur, had legally married Benazir around seven years ago through a court marriage. Despite initial family disputes, Shoaib and Benazir had recently reconciled with her in-laws.
The couple was traveling to Quetta accompanied by Shoaib’s brother when they decided to stop and spend the night at a private hotel near Lakpass, situated on the Nushki cross route in Mastung.
It was here that the horrific attack unfolded. Unidentified gunmen, later confirmed to be Benazir’s brothers, located the couple through a phone call and opened fire at close range early the next morning.
Both Shoaib and his pregnant wife were shot dead instantly. Following the shooting, the assailants fled the scene, leaving the victims’ bodies at the hotel. Law enforcement arrived promptly and transferred the bodies to a nearby hospital for further investigation.
Officials reported that the brothers had initially invited Shoaib and Benazir to Quetta under the guise of a family gathering, only to later carry out the deadly attack. This heinous act is being treated as a case of honor killing, a grim reminder of ongoing social challenges faced by couples opting for love marriages in certain regions of the country.
Levies authorities have registered a formal case against the suspects and have launched a search operation to locate and apprehend the perpetrators. The community and human rights organizations have condemned the act, calling for justice and greater protections for individuals who choose their life partners freely.
This tragic event highlights the persistent dangers associated with honor-based violence and the urgent need for stronger legal enforcement and social awareness to safeguard human rights in the region.
