Quetta, Balochistan – 20 July 2025:
A gruesome incident of honor killing in Digari, District Mastung near Quetta, has shocked Balochistan. A young couple, who had married out of free will a year ago, was brutally murdered—allegedly on orders of a local Jirga, a traditional justice system often accused of perpetuating violence against women in Pakistan.
The Women Action Forum (WAF) Quetta strongly condemned the murder, calling it a “barbaric and premeditated crime” that reflects the deep-rooted misuse of honor as an excuse for gender-based violence.
Details of the Incident
According to local reports, the couple was invited to a dinner under false pretenses. The trap was orchestrated under a Jirga verdict, which ruled against their marriage. The couple was taken to a secluded area near Quetta, where they were shot dead in cold blood. Heartbreaking details emerged that the woman was holding the Holy Quran, pleading for mercy, and was forced to let go of it before being killed.
WAF’s Key Demands to the Government of Balochistan
- Ban the Jirga System:
WAF urged the provincial government to officially ban all parallel justice systems like Jirgas that enable honor killings and other human rights violations. - Arrest and Prosecution:
The organization demanded that all Jirga members involved, along with the actual murderers, must be arrested and prosecuted under anti-terrorism and criminal laws. - Enact Strict Legislation on Honor Killings:
WAF emphasized the urgent need for the Balochistan Assembly and federal government to pass and enforce stringent laws against honor-based crimes and gender-based violence.
Social Media Outrage and Civil Society Response
The video footage and images of the couple’s final moments have gone viral, sparking massive outrage across social media platforms. Civil society organizations, women’s rights activists, and legal experts have echoed WAF’s demands, calling the incident a test case for the state’s will to protect women’s rights in Balochistan.
Honor killings remain a critical human rights issue in Pakistan, with many cases going unreported or unpunished. According to human rights watchdogs, Balochistan continues to witness rising cases of gender violence, often shielded by tribal customs and weak law enforcement.
