Pakistan Arrests 13 Over Viral Balochistan Honour Killing

Pakistani authorities have arrested at least 13 individuals, including a tribal leader and relatives of the victims, in connection with the honor killing of a couple in Balochistan after a video of the murders went viral on social media. The couple, identified as Bano Bibi and Ehsan Ullah, were killed last month near Quetta after marrying without their families' consent, with the killings ordered by a local tribal elder and jirga. The video shows the couple being shot in a remote area, sparking widespread public outrage and calls for justice and an end to honor killings, which disproportionately affect women in Pakistan. Despite a Supreme Court ban on jirgas, these traditional councils continue to operate and enforce harsh penalties based on patriarchal codes of honor, often with impunity due to weak law enforcement and cultural tolerance. The provincial government has registered terrorism charges related to the case, and investigations continue, with further arrests expected. Activists emphasize the need for stronger measures to eradicate honor killings, a persistent problem rooted in deeply ingrained social and cultural norms across rural Pakistan.