Police arrest 11 suspects over 'honour killing' of newlywed couple in Pakistan

Police in southwestern Pakistan arrested 11 suspects after a video went viral, showing a young couple murdered for marrying without their families' approval, authorities said on Monday.

The disturbing footage caused an uproar in the country, with activists demanding swift justice and a stop to so-called honor killings, where family members target women who don't follow local traditions and culture or decide to marry someone of their choosing.

The video, which surfaced over the weekend on social media and was viewed by The Associated Press, showed a man executing the young couple at close range in daylight as others stood by. Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, saying the killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan, said Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti

In the video, several men arrive in pickup trucks in a mountainous region, and a young woman, speaking the local language, says she is legally married.

A local police official said the woman did not cry or seek mercy. "You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that," the woman says in the regional Brahavi language, translated by the official.

It was not clear what she meant by "nothing more than that".

The man, who had followed her, then aimed a pistol at her as she turned her back to the shooter.

The woman, wrapped in a shawl, stood still as shots were fired. She remained standing after two shots, delivered from close range, dropping to the ground after the third shot.

A man follows her, takes out a gun and shoots her three times before she collapses on the ground. He then shoots and kills her husband before another man takes out a gun and joins him in shooting the groom. The video ends with both victims lying bloodied on the ground.

Local police identified the bride and groom only as Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah and released some of the suspects' names, saying the provincial government had initiated the investigation as none of the couple's family members came forward.

"The bravery shown by the slain woman is both humbling and remarkable, as she neither begged for her life nor showed any weakness," said Farhatullah Babar, a Pakistani human rights activist. He condemned the couple's killing and called for strict punishment for everyone involved in the "brutal murder of the newlywed couple."

The Balochistan government swung into action about gruesome honour killings only after a video went viral on social media. It is not exactly known who leaked the video, but it is generally believed that those who were present at the horrifying act of shooting down the couple might have released it. The incident took place around the last Eid Al Adha.

The case has now been handed over to the Serious Crimes Investigation Wing (SCIW), police said.

SCIW Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Saboor Agha said that eleven people have been arrested, including a tribal leader who issued directives to shoot the couple, and all of them will appear before a judicial magistrate."

The viral video showed a group of men leading a couple out of vehicles and into a desert before gunning them down with pistols and shooting the bodies.

According to a first information report (FIR) registered by the Station House Officer (SHO) Naveed Akhtar at Quetta's Hanna-Urak Police Station, he lodged the complaint after receiving the video clip that had gone viral on social media, showing a man and a woman being brutally shot and killed by armed individuals.

Akhtar stated that he, along with his team, reached Dagari, situated on the outskirts of Quetta and, upon investigation, discovered that the incident occurred three days before Eidul Azha in the area of Sanjidi in Dagari.

"The victims seen in the viral video have been identified as Bano Bibi and Ihsanullah," the FIR said, naming eight suspects who allegedly shot the couple dead. The FIR also mentioned 15 other unknown suspects involved in the incident.

Naveed Akhtar said owing to the nature of the murder, the case has now been transferred to the SCIW for further investigation."

Prior to being killed, the victims were allegedly taken to a tribal leader, who declared them guilty of being involved in an 'immoral relationship' (locally termed 'Karo Kari') and ordered their execution, following which they were taken to the desert and shot dead, the FIR said.

It added that the murder was filmed and uploaded to social media to spread fear and panic among the public.

The FIR said a case was registered against the suspects under Sections 302 (murder), 149 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 147 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Officials said the ill-fated couple were invited to the village for lunch and later taken to an abandoned place in Dagari, where they were informed about the decision of the elders.

"You are allowed to shoot me, but nothing more than that," the slain woman told the perpetrators in Brahvi before her murder. She asked her killers to let her walk seven steps before shooting her. She was shot thrice apparently by her brother, followed by the killing of her husband.