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 in 2016 to mandate life imprisonment for honour killings, even if the victim’s family pardons the perpetrator. Yet enforcement remains weak. In many cases, perpetrators escape justice through informal pardons, compensation deals, or legal loopholes. In Balochistan, large parts of the province remain under the control of tribal leaders and jirgas—informal councils that often support or sanction honour killings. These local bodies bypass the formal legal system and perpetuate a culture of impunity. Victims are frequently judged and condemned outside the bounds of national law. Powerful feudal families, or “waderas,” have vested interests in maintaining traditional controls over land, women’s autonomy, and local justice. Reform efforts in Balochistan are further obstructed by political patronage, fragile governance, and fear of tribal retaliation.
Karachi, plagued by ethnic violence in the 1990s, witnessed a dramatic turnaround after paramilitary interventions under Operation Clean-Up. In contrast, Balochistan’s landscape remains marked by ongoing insurgency and entrenched tribal authority, which have resisted large-scale reform despite policy efforts like the Gender Empowerment Bill 2023.
Several factors hinder reform in Balochistan. Tribal and political entrenchment ensures that waderas and jirgas retain strong influence over justice delivery, law enforcement remains weak, and honour-killers often face no consequences. Cultural norms stigmatize love, education, or personal choice as dishonourable, especially in rural communities. Additionally, under-reporting—driven by fear, shame, and limited data collection—further conceals the scope of the problem. Addressing honour killings requires a multifaceted strategy. The government must ensure strict enforcement of the 2016 law and close loopholes that allow perpetrators to evade justice. Public-awareness campaigns targeting youth, elders, and women are essential to shift societal attitudes. Supporting civil-society organizations, empowering local legal-aid networks, and reducing the influence of jirgas in criminal matters are vital to long-term reform.
The recent filmed killing in Balochistan is not an isolated tragedy but reflects a pattern of systemic violence sustained by outdated traditions and failed enforcement. Dozens of couples are murdered every year simply for choosing their partners. Balochistan continues to suffer from feudal interests, political inertia, and cultural resistance. Real change will require not just new laws, but a societal transformation backed by strong institutions and fearless justice.
In January 2025, a U.S.-born 15-year-old girl was murdered in Quetta by her father over her TikTok activity. He initially blamed unknown assailants but later confessed. This case underscores the ongoing conflict between evolving global norms and deeply rooted local customs that continue to justify such killings.
Ultimately, ending the deadly tradition of honour killings in Balochistan demands more than legal reforms; it requires dismantling the cultural and tribal structures that normalize violence, empowering vulnerable communities, and holding perpetrators accountable without exception. Only by uniting state institutions, civil society, and local voices can Pakistan transform honour from a weapon of death into a shield for human dignity.
