Senate slams 'honour killing' in Balochistan, urges swift justice
Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani. Photo: Facebook/ Senate of Pakistan
The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution condemning the brutal murder of a man and a woman in Balochistan, carried out on the orders of a tribal jirga. The resolution was adopted with overwhelming support, with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) being the only party that declined to endorse it.
Tabled by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman, it described the killings as a gross violation of human rights, the Constitution, and the laws of Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported.
According to the resolution text, the House “strongly and unequivocally condemns the heinous incident wherein a woman and man were publicly and illegally executed in broad daylight, following a so-called jirga decision.”
It termed the murders a premeditated act of vigilante violence and rejected any attempt to justify the act under the guise of tribal customs or so-called honour.
Affirming that honour killings constitute murder under the law, the resolution stressed that they must be treated and prosecuted accordingly. It warned that the rule of law cannot be selectively applied, nor should tribal or informal justice mechanisms be allowed to undermine constitutional protections and due process.
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The resolution urged the government to ensure an immediate and transparent investigation into the killings. It called for all those involved—whether directly or indirectly, including individuals who convened or sanctioned the jirga—to be brought to justice without delay.
It also asked that law enforcement agencies be directed to handle such cases strictly under the relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, without compromise or discretion.
Grateful to all the parties across the opposition/ treasury benches in the Senate of Pakistan for generously supporting a House Resolution against the heinous practice of murdering women in the name of "honour". Thank you @BBhuttoZardari for always supporting women's rights !
We… pic.twitter.com/fjstDrGYjJFurthermore, it recommended that the Ministries of Law and Justice and Human Rights conduct a thorough review of enforcement gaps in existing laws dealing with so-called honour crimes and propose actionable reforms for robust implementation.
It emphasised the need to train and sensitise public prosecutors and investigating officers to treat honour crimes and gender-based violence as serious criminal offences warranting proactive prosecution.
The resolution also called on provincial and federal governments to launch awareness campaigns rejecting the concept of honour-based violence and reinforcing the supremacy of constitutional law over tribal or feudal traditions.
Read More: 14 suspects arrested over 'honour killing' of couple in Balochistan
Following the passage of the resolution, Senator Rehman expressed her gratitude to fellow lawmakers across party lines for supporting the motion.
In a post on X, she wrote: “Grateful to all the parties across the opposition/treasury benches in the Senate of Pakistan for generously supporting a House Resolution against the heinous practice of murdering women in the name of 'honour'.”
The killings, which occurred last month, gained widespread attention after a video surfaced showing the couple being shot. The man who killed the woman was her brother, acting on behalf of the family and tribe, provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari told Reuters.
The chief of the tribe, Sher Baz Satakzai, had ordered the killing, he added. Satakzai was among those arrested, according to Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who addressed the media in a news conference in Quetta, the provincial capital.
"We will make sure that they all will be prosecuted," Bugti said. In response, law enforcement officials arrested the chief. He is currently in police custody on a 10-day physical remand.