Here’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on clarity, flow, and impact, while retaining the core information:
Brutal Honor Killings in Balochistan Highlight Deep-Rooted Violence Against Women
A horrific incident in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has brought renewed attention to the pervasive issue of “honor killings” and the systemic violence against women. A couple, identified as Bano and her partner, were reportedly murdered in May near Quetta, the provincial capital. The killings, captured in viral videos, depict a brutal scene where armed men execute the couple in a deserted area, continuing to shoot even after they are motionless.
The First Information Report (FIR) names eight suspects and implicates fifteen others. According to the FIR, the couple was brought before local tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Khan, who allegedly declared them guilty of an “immoral relationship” and ordered their deaths. balochistan police official Syed Suboor Agha confirmed an ongoing inquiry and the likelihood of further arrests, including Bano’s brother, who is a prime suspect and remains at large.
“Honor killings,” predominantly reported in Pakistan and India, stem from perceived family, tribal, or caste dishonor, frequently enough triggered by relationships or marriages that defy familial or tribal consent. Manny such killings go unreported, making the viral nature of this incident notably meaningful.
This tragedy underscores Pakistan’s grim record on violence against women.The Enduring Social Progress Organisation (SSDO) reported over 32,000 cases of gender-based violence nationwide in 2024, including 547 “honor killings.” Balochistan accounted for 32 of these, with a starkly low conviction rate of only one case.Harris Khalique, general secretary of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), described the killings as a manifestation of the “tyranny of medieval practices” still prevalent in parts of the country. He criticized the state for prioritizing the protection of tribal chiefs and feudal lords,who allegedly perpetuate these practices to maintain their power,over establishing the rule of law and ensuring citizens’ right to life.
Balochistan, a mineral-rich but sparsely populated province, has also been a site of prolonged conflict between the government and ethnic Baloch separatists. Rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch, associated with a Baloch women’s rights group, stated that the murder of women has become “a matter of routine” in the province.
“In Balochistan, women are murdered for love, disappeared for protest, and buried under layers of tribal authority and state-backed silence,” she told Al Jazeera.”These are not isolated tragedies. They are the cost of a system designed to keep balochistan obedient, and its women expendable.”
Baloch believes the government’s intervention in this case was a direct result of the video going viral. She articulated the precarious position of Baloch women, caught between the “brutality of tribal patriarchy” and the “cold repression of the state.” She argued that the state’s failure to democratize Balochistan is a deliberate policy, achieved by outsourcing governance to feudal strongmen, thereby maintaining control over the region, rendering its women disposable, and criminalizing dissent.
