Pakistan court orders exhumation of couple killed in Balochistan in suspected 'honor' killing

A Pakistani court has ordered the exhumation of both victims in a so-called 'honor killing' case in Balochistan, following national outrage over a harrowing video of the couple’s execution that surfaced on social media.

Judicial Magistrate Akhtar Shah has directed that the couple's grave be reopened in Degari, a town in the province where she and a man were killed for allegedly marrying against their families’ wishes.

The exhumation will be carried out under the magistrate’s supervision to assist with forensic investigation.

The video, which circulated widely online, showed the woman being handed a copy of the Holy Quran before asking the man to walk “seven steps” with her after which, she said, he could shoot her.

Both were then executed in a remote desert area, allegedly on the orders of a tribal council. The graphic nature of the footage triggered public outcry and a swift official crackdown.

Meanwhile, the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court has taken suo motu notice of the case and summoned the additional chief secretary (Home) and the inspector general of police to appear in court on July 22 (Tuesday).

Two-day physical remand for main suspect

In a parallel development, the main accused in the case, Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai, was produced before Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta.

Judge Muhammad Mubeen approved a two-day physical remand and handed the suspect over to the Special Crime Investigation Wing (SCIW) for further interrogation. The SCIW had requested custody to probe the broader network allegedly involved in orchestrating the murders.

Authorities say at least 11 suspects have been arrested so far. A case has been registered against all those involved, according to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who confirmed the arrests after the victims and location shown in the video were identified. “They will be prosecuted,” Bugti said in a statement.

CM denounces tribal impunity

Chief Minister Bugti vowed that justice would be delivered in the Degari killing case, stressing that no tribal affiliation or local influence would shield the perpetrators.

In a press conference addressing the incident, Bugti confirmed that a dozen individuals -- including a tribal chief -- had been arrested within 24 hours of the disturbing video going viral. He assured that the investigation would proceed under constitutional law, not through tribal jirgas.

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Rejecting widespread misinformation, Bugti clarified that the victims were not a newlywed couple. “The woman was a mother of five. The man, aged around 45 or 50, also had four or five children,” he said, adding, “But no one has the right to commit such a brutal murder, regardless of what the circumstances were.”

Criticizing the role of media and social platforms, the chief minister said disinformation had muddied public understanding of the case. “People sitting in Karachi and Lahore don’t even know where Degari is, and still, no one did any investigation. It was the killer himself who filmed and released the video,” he stated.

He also confirmed the suspension of the local Special Branch DSP for failing to inform the government in time.

‘Honor killings’ remain a persistent crisis

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reports that at least 405 'honor killings' occurred in 2024, with most victims being women.

Despite legislative measures and mounting pressure from civil society, many of these crimes remain rooted in patriarchal customs and escape legal consequences.

The Degari case has once again spotlighted the state's struggle to protect vulnerable individuals from extrajudicial punishments sanctioned by tribal or familial codes - and the urgent need for structural reforms in Pakistan's justice system.

With input from Reuters