Exhumation
QUETTA: A judicial magistrate in Quetta on Monday ordered the exhumation of a woman’s body who was brutally killed in the name of so-called honour in Dagari, a locality on the outskirts of Balochistan’s provincial capital. The tragic incident, which involved the shooting of a couple on the orders of a local tribal Jirga last month, has drawn widespread condemnation and national attention.
The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed. However, disturbing footage that circulated widely on social media showed a group of men forcing the couple out of a vehicle and leading them into the desert, where they were shot at close range. This video sparked outrage across the country and prompted swift government action.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti responded by condemning the killings and emphasizing that a terrorism case had been registered. So far, eleven suspects have been arrested, with police continuing operations to apprehend those involved. CM Bugti reassured the public that the state stands firmly with the oppressed and vowed that all culprits would face justice.
On Monday, the police reported the arrest of two additional suspects, including the prime accused in the case. The investigation is being led by Quetta’s Hanna-Urak Police Station, where an FIR has been filed under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including murder, unlawful assembly, rioting, and provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
Meanwhile, a local court handed over suspect Sardar Sherbaz Khan to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing on a one-day physical remand for further interrogation. The Balochistan High Court’s chief justice has also taken suo moto notice of the case and summoned the provincial additional chief secretary (Home) and Inspector General of Police for a hearing scheduled tomorrow.
Addressing the media, CM Bugti called this horrific crime a “test case” for his government and assured that justice would be delivered regardless of the suspects’ social or political status. He clarified that contrary to circulating rumors, the murdered man and woman were not married, and that the woman was a mother of five children.
He further condemned the parallel justice system of tribal jirgas and stated that the government would take steps to end such practices, emphasizing the need to adhere strictly to the constitution.
This incident has brought renewed focus on the ongoing crisis of honour killings in Pakistan. According to a 2024 report by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), there were 547 reported cases of honour killings nationwide last year, with conviction rates alarmingly below 2%.
Honour crimes continue to claim hundreds of lives annually, with 346 victims recorded from January to November 2024 alone. The numbers have remained disturbingly high over the past few years, reflecting a persistent and deeply rooted social challenge.
The Quetta case serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stronger enforcement of laws protecting vulnerable populations and for societal change to end violence committed under the guise of honour.
