Mother arrested for endorsing daughter's honor killing

Police arrested the mother of a woman killed in a viral honor killing case after she publicly endorsed her daughter's execution and demanded the release of the suspected killers, authorities said Thursday.

Gul Jan was taken into custody after posting a video statement calling the murder of her daughter, Bano Bibi, a "just punishment" under traditional Baloch customs. An anti-terrorism court in Quetta granted police a two-day remand to interrogate her on charges of supporting the double murder and attempting to obstruct justice.

The arrest marks an extraordinary development in a case that has gripped Pakistan since graphic footage of the execution surfaced on social media earlier this month, showing Bano Bibi and a man named Ehsaan being shot dead in a remote desert area of Balochistan province.

In her video statement, Gul Jan claimed a local tribal council, known as a jirga, had sentenced her daughter to death for having a relationship with Ehsaan, who made TikTok videos, which she said angered her sons.

"Our people did not take any illegal decision, this decision was taken under Balochi customs and traditions," Gul Jan said in the video, according to police. She insisted that Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai, one of the main suspects already in custody, played no role in the killings and appealed for his release along with other arrested individuals.

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Bano Bibi was a mother of five children, with her eldest son being 16 years old, her mother confirmed.

Police said the main suspect, identified only as Jalal, remains at large and operations are underway to arrest him. At least 11 people have been detained in connection with the killings, which allegedly occurred last month on orders from tribal leaders.

Honor killings

The case has renewed focus on Pakistan's struggle with honor killings, where victims are murdered by relatives claiming to defend family reputation. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported at least 405 such killings in 2024, with women comprising the majority of victims.

Honor killings, while illegal under Pakistani law, persist in rural and tribal areas where traditional customs often supersede formal legal systems.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has vowed that justice will be served regardless of tribal affiliations, emphasizing that the case will proceed under constitutional law rather than traditional tribal councils.

*Reporting by Murtaza Zehri