Balochistan: Newlywed Couple Executed in Balochistan Honor Killing, Ignites Nationwide Outrage
QUETTA, Balochistan – In a shocking act of violence that has gripped Pakistan, Noor Bano Bibi, approximately 37-38, and her husband Ihsanullah, approximately 35-36, were brutally shot dead in the Deghari district of Balochistan on June 4, 2025, days before Eid ul-Adha. The killings, classified as an “honor killing” by local authorities, were captured in a graphic 1-minute-11-second video that went viral on social media platforms like X and WhatsApp on July 19, 2025. The video, showing the couple’s execution in a desert near Quetta, has sparked widespread outrage in Pakistan and India. Noor Bano Bibi, holding a Quran and dressed in a red shawl, is heard defiantly proclaiming in Brahui, “Nikah kiya tha, zina nahi” (“I have married, not sinned”), asserting the legitimacy of her marriage before being shot seven times. The killings were allegedly ordered by tribal elder Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai after Noor Bano’s brother objected to the couple’s marriage without family consent.
Details of the Incident
The viral video, verified by Balochistan police, depicts a grim scene in the Sanjidi area, approximately 40 kilometers from Quetta. Approximately 30 armed men surround several vehicles, with Noor Bano Bibi walking slowly in front of a vehicle, clutching a Quran. Speaking in Brahui, she says, “Tao ma pichan, pas tao ma pashk ban” (“You are only allowed to shoot me, nothing else”), followed by her final words, “Nikah kiya tha, zina nahi” (“I have married, not sinned”). She also requests, “Come, walk seven steps with me, and then you can only shoot me,” a poignant gesture possibly referencing a cultural or personal act of defiance. Moments later, an assailant shoots her seven times in the head, chest, and stomach. Ihsanullah is then shot nine times in the chest and stomach, with a second gunman firing additional shots. The video concludes with the couple lying bloodied on the ground, recorded by an unidentified onlooker. (Pakistan Honour Killing
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Note: The last words, “Nikah kiya tha, zina nahi,” were spoken in Brahui, a Dravidian language prevalent in Balochistan, and translated into Urdu and English as “I have married, not sinned.” The phrase underscores the couple’s lawful marriage under Islamic law. (Honor Killing Pakistan
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According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Hanna-Urak police station, the couple was summoned to a tribal council (jirga) led by Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai. The jirga declared them guilty of “Karo Kari,” a local term for an immoral relationship, due to their love marriage without family approval. The council ordered their execution, carried out in broad daylight. The FIR names eight identified suspects, including Noor Bano’s brother, and 15 unidentified individuals. (11 More Suspects
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“The bravery shown by Noor Bano Bibi, standing firm with the Quran in hand, is a testament to her dignity and resolve in the face of unimaginable cruelty,” said Farhatullah Babar, a Pakistani human rights activist.
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Investigation and Legal Action
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killings as “a heinous crime against humanity” and announced the arrest of 11 suspects, including Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai and Noor Bano’s brother, on July 21, 2025. The case was transferred to the Serious Crimes Investigation Wing (SCIW) under Superintendent of Police Syed Suboor Agha. Police are pursuing nine additional suspects, with raids ongoing in Deghari and surrounding areas. The Balochistan High Court, led by Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech, took suo motu notice on July 22, 2025, summoning the chief secretary and inspector general of police to ensure swift justice. An anti-terrorism court granted a two-day physical remand for Sardar Satakzai, charging the suspects under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and sections 302 (murder) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code. (11 More Suspects
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Postmortem examinations, conducted after exhumation on July 20, 2025, confirmed Noor Bano was shot seven times and Ihsanullah nine times, with bullets recovered from their bodies. Police surgeon Dr. Ayesha Faiz noted that the exhumation was necessary due to the absence of initial family reporting, with the state acting as the complainant. The viral video, recorded by an unknown individual, provided critical evidence, enabling police to identify the perpetrators and crime scene. Forensic analysis of the video is underway to extract additional details, such as the identities of remaining suspects. (Couple Killed
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“The state stands with the oppressed. Those responsible for this barbaric act will face the full force of the law,” vowed Chief Minister Bugti.
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Context of Honor Killings in Pakistan
Honor killings remain a deeply entrenched issue in Pakistan, particularly in rural and tribal regions like Balochistan, where patriarchal norms dominate. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported 405 honor killings in 2024, with 335 women and 119 men killed, though the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) estimated 547 cases, noting a conviction rate below 2% in Balochistan. These killings often target individuals who defy family expectations, such as through love marriages or rejecting arranged marriages. The term “Karo Kari” reflects a cultural belief that such actions bring “shame,” justifying violence to restore family honor. (Pakistan Arrests
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Pakistan’s 2016 Criminal Law (Amendment) Act mandated life sentences for honor killings, eliminating provisions allowing perpetrators to escape punishment through family forgiveness. However, enforcement remains weak, particularly in remote areas where tribal councils (jirgas) hold sway despite being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2019. Harris Khalique, HRCP’s general secretary, criticized the state’s complicity, stating, “Tribal chiefs and feudal lords are protected, enabling these crimes to persist.” In Balochistan, where 70% of the population lives in rural or tribal areas, such practices are deeply rooted, compounded by low literacy rates and limited access to justice. (Pakistan Arrests
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“In Balochistan, women are murdered for love, disappeared for protest, and buried under layers of tribal authority and state-backed silence,” said Sammi Deen Baloch, a member of the Baloch Women’s Forum.
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Public and International Reaction
The viral video, viewed over 1.2 million times on X by July 22, 2025, sparked intense public outrage in Pakistan and India. Users on X shared Noor Bano’s words, “Nikah kiya tha, zina nahi,” as a symbol of resistance, with one post reading, “Her courage in the face of death demands justice.” Indian media, including Zee News and The Tribune, drew parallels to honor killings in India, referencing cases like the 2013 Haryana murder of Dharmender and Nidhi Barak. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned the killings as “a scar on Balochistan’s conscience,” rejecting claims that such acts reflect Baloch culture. (Pakistan Balochistan
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The Pakistan Ulema Council issued a statement declaring the killings “un-Islamic” and urged trials under anti-terrorism laws, emphasizing that Islam permits love marriages with mutual consent. Political leaders, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Senator Sherry Rehman, called the perpetrators “inhuman” and advocated for dismantling tribal jirgas. Internationally, human rights organizations like Amnesty International condemned the killings, urging Pakistan to address gender-based violence systematically. The incident has reignited debates about the role of social media in exposing atrocities, with some critics warning that sharing graphic content risks normalizing violence. (Pakistan Viral Video
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Societal and Legal Implications
The murder of Noor Bano Bibi and Ihsanullah underscores the clash between individual rights and patriarchal traditions in Pakistan. Tribal jirgas, though illegal, continue to wield significant influence in Balochistan, where feudal structures and low literacy rates (43% in rural areas, per UNESCO 2024) perpetuate gender-based violence. The 2016 law has had limited impact due to judicial loopholes, lack of witness protection, and societal acceptance of honor killings. The SSDO noted that only 15% of honor killing cases in Balochistan reach trial, with convictions rare due to community pressure. (Murder in the Name
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The viral video’s role in prompting swift arrests highlights social media’s power to amplify justice demands but also raises ethical concerns about graphic content circulation. Activists like Sammi Deen Baloch argue that state inaction would have persisted without public pressure, stating, “The video forced accountability, but justice requires dismantling the systems that enable these murders.” Proposed reforms include stricter jirga bans, gender-sensitized policing, and education campaigns to challenge cultural norms. The application of anti-terrorism laws in this case signals a potential shift toward harsher penalties, but systemic change remains elusive. (Pakistan Arrests
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Conclusion
The execution of Noor Bano Bibi and Ihsanullah in Balochistan is a heart-wrenching tragedy that exposes the enduring scourge of honor killings in Pakistan. Noor Bano’s final words in Brahui, “Nikah kiya tha, zina nahi” (“I have married, not sinned”), resonate as a powerful testament to her right to love and marry freely. The viral video, while exposing the brutality of tribal justice, has catalyzed action, with 11 arrests and a high-profile investigation underway. Yet, this incident demands more than arrests—it calls for dismantling patriarchal norms, strengthening legal enforcement, and fostering societal change to ensure that love is no longer a death sentence in Pakistan. The courage of Noor Bano and Ihsanullah must inspire a future where justice triumphs over tradition.
Works Cited
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“Couple Killed During Honor Killing as 13 Suspects Arrested.” The Express, 21 July 2025, www.the-express.com/news/couple-killed-during-honor-killing-as-13-suspects-arrested-192923.
“Honor Killing Pakistan: Arrests After Newlywed Couple Murdered.” CBS News, 21 July 2025, www.cbsnews.com/news/honor-killing-pakistan-arrests-newlywed-couple-murdered.
“Murder in the Name of Honour: How Baloch Tribal Justice Defies Pakistan’s Law.” The Friday Times, 21 July 2025, www.thefridaytimes.com/2025/07/21/murder-in-the-name-of-honour-how-baloch-tribal-justice-defies-pakistans-law/.
“Pakistan: Arrests After ‘Honour Killing’ Video Goes Viral.” Al Jazeera, 21 July 2025, www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/21/pakistan-arrests-13-suspects-as-honour-killing-video-goes-viral.
“Pakistan Balochistan Honour Killing Video Viral on Social Media.” Zee News, 21 July 2025, zeenews.india.com/hindi/world/pakistan-balochistan-honour-killing-video-viral-on-social-media/2167893.
“Pakistan Baloch Human Rights Group Gives Call to Hold Perpetrators of Honour Killings Accountable.” The Tribune India, 21 July 2025, www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/pakistan-baloch-human-rights-group-gives-call-to-hold-perpetrators-of-honour-killings-accountable-641231.
“Pakistan Honour Killing: Couple Shot Dead for Marrying by Choice, Killers Film Act.” News18, 21 July 2025, www.news18.com/news/world/pakistan-honour-killing-couple-shot-dead-for-marrying-by-choice-killers-film-act-2025-07-21-9005678.html.
“Pakistan: Newlywed Couple Shot Dead in Balochistan ‘Honor’ Killing.” Arab News, 21 July 2025, www.arabnews.com/node/2608656/pakistan.
“Pakistan Viral Video Shows Honour Killing in Balochistan Desert, 11 Held.” The Times of India, 21 July 2025, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-viral-video-shows-honour-killing-in-balochistan-desert-11-held/articleshow/111906058.cms.
