Pakistan: Man Kills Sister After Giving Her Qur’an Over Alleged Affair

Image: Jihad Watch

A harrowing video capturing the brutal so-called “honour killing” of a couple accused of having an affair has ignited a wave of national outrage and condemnation across Pakistan. The footage, which quickly went viral on social media, has not only shocked the public but also reignited debates over tribal customs, women’s rights, and the country's struggle to end honour-based violence.

The video, reportedly filmed in Balochistan province, shows a young woman named Bano Bibi in her final moments. In a chilling scene, a man—identified by police as her brother, Jalal Satakzai—hands her a copy of the Qur’an. In a hauntingly calm voice, Bano says, “Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me,” suggesting a symbolic plea for dignity or perhaps invoking a traditional rite. She then walks a few steps and stops, turning her back toward the group of men. Without hesitation, her brother fires three bullets into her back, killing her on the spot.

Immediately afterward, Satakzai also shoots and kills the man alleged to be her lover, Ehsan Ullah Samalani, in what appears to be a calculated and public execution intended as a warning.

Following the release and circulation of the video, authorities launched a swift crackdown. Police have so far arrested 16 individuals in connection with the murders, including a tribal leader and the victims' relatives. Among those detained is Bano’s mother, Gul Jan Bibi, who, rather than expressing remorse, openly defended the killings. In another viral video, she claimed that the executions were not influenced by the tribal chief, but rather carried out under the direction of local elders and in accordance with “centuries-old Baloch traditions.” “We did not commit any sin,” she said. “Bano and Ehsan were killed according to our customs.”

This incident has once again exposed the deep-rooted societal and cultural norms that continue to justify violence in the name of family honour, particularly against women. Despite the criminalisation of honour killings in Pakistan in 2016, such acts remain disturbingly common, especially in rural and tribal regions where traditional customs often override state law. According to a recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), at least 405 honour killings were recorded in 2024 alone—the vast majority of the victims being women, and most of the perpetrators being male relatives.

The gruesome nature of this latest case and the viral spread of the video have intensified public demands for justice and reform. Human rights activists and women’s rights groups are urging the government not only to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrators but also to confront the cultural ideologies that normalize such brutality under the guise of tradition.

As Pakistan grapples with the aftermath of this horrifying crime, the nation is once again forced to reckon with the question: when will honour stop being an excuse for murder?

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)