Deadly Tradition: Honour Killings in Balochistan
Recently, a heartbreaking event emerged from Balochistan: a man and a woman were brutally killed by their own family under the pretext of an “honour killing.” The incident was filmed, circulated widely on social media, and sparked outrage across Pakistan, highlighting a deeply entrenched issue in the province.
Aurat Foundation documented 49 honour-killing cases in Balochistan in 2022, with another eight in August 2023 alone. A broader report tracking violence against women noted 129 such incidents in 2021, including 49 honour killings that resulted in the deaths of 57 women and 21 men. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded 83 honour-killing and Karo-Kari incidents in the province between 2018 and 2022, claiming 138 lives—82 women and 56 men. The first widely reported honour killing in Balochistan occurred in 2008, when three teenage girls were buried alive by their brothers. In 2011, the province recorded 81 cases—more than double the 36 cases in 2010. Activists and rights groups argue that the actual numbers are likely much higher due to systemic under-reporting, cultural barriers, and the stronghold of tribal governance.
Pakistan amended its criminal law........
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