Taken To Wilderness, Handed Qur’an, Then Shot: Video Shows Chilling ‘Honour’ Killing Of Couple In Balochistan

A disturbing video has gone viral in Pakistan, showing the brutal killing of a young couple in what is being described as an “honour” killing in Balochistan province. The footage, which has triggered widespread outrage across the country and beyond, captures the final moments of the couple—identified as Bano Bibi and Ihsanullah—before they were shot dead on the outskirts of Quetta.

The video shows a group of men arriving in SUVs and pickup trucks at a deserted, hilly area near Quetta, the provincial capital. The couple is seen being taken out of the vehicles and led into the wilderness. The woman, her head covered with a shawl, is handed a copy of the Qur’an. As the crowd watches, she walks ahead and tells a man in the Brahui language, “Walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me”, The Guardian reported.

The man complies. After a few steps, she says, “You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that.” The man then draws a pistol and fires multiple rounds at her back. After the third shot, the woman collapses. Moments later, another burst of gunfire is heard, and the man is also seen lying bloodied near her body, while some in the crowd cheer. The incident reportedly occurred three days before Eid al-Adha in May 2025.

FIR Registered, 13 Arrested So Far

According to Dawn, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Quetta’s Hanna-Urak police station by Station House Officer Naveed Akhtar, who took cognisance of the matter after receiving the viral clip. “The victims seen in the viral video have been identified as Bano Bibi and Ihsanullah,” the FIR stated.

The complaint names eight individuals suspected of shooting the couple, along with 15 others who remain unidentified. Akhtar confirmed the case has now been transferred to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing due to the gruesome nature of the killings.

Police said the killing was ordered by tribal elder Sardar Satakzai after the woman’s brother approached him and objected to her marriage. Both the tribal leader and the brother are among the 13 people arrested so far, The Guardian reported.

“The murder was filmed and uploaded to social media to spread fear and panic among the public,” the FIR noted.

Political, Social Leaders Demand Justice

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed the arrests on Monday and called the killings an “honour” crime. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called the suspects “beasts”, stating, “they deserved no concessions.”

Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch expressed horror at the incident, calling on tribal elders to “respect women’s decisions.” She posted on X, “As a woman, this chilling incident is deeply painful and heart-wrenching for me. Killing any woman in the name of honour is not only a heinous crime but also the worst humiliation of humanity.”

Rising Concern Over ‘Honour’ Killings In Pakistan

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recorded at least 405 honour killing cases in 2024, though activists believe the actual number is much higher due to underreporting.

Earlier this year, a man who had returned to Pakistan from the United States confessed to murdering his daughter for making TikTok videos. In another tragic case, a father in Sindh’s Malir district shot dead his 20-year-old daughter and her boyfriend after they eloped to get married.

As calls grow for strict legal action, activists and civil society groups are demanding systemic reforms to end the cycle of violence against women who defy traditional norms.

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