Balochistan Honor Killing Case: CM Confirms Victims Were Not Married
QUETTA — July 21, 2025:
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has confirmed that the couple brutally killed in a recent honor killing incident in Degari were not married, debunking widespread misinformation on social media and calling the killings an “act of barbarity.”
During a press conference, CM Sarfraz Bugti stated that the female victim was a married woman with five children, rejecting victim-blaming narratives that have circulated since the video of the gruesome incident went viral during Eid al-Adha.
“This was not just an honor killing—it was cold-blooded murder, and the state will stand with the oppressed,” Bugti affirmed.
11 Suspects Arrested Including Tribal Chief
Following the release of a graphic viral video showing armed men executing a man and woman in a desolate desert area, law enforcement arrested 11 suspects, including Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai, the head of the Satakzai tribe. Raids on Satakzai House have sparked tensions among tribal elders, with some leaders criticizing the arrest of the tribal chief.
Legal and Political Response
The Balochistan High Court Chief Justice, Rozi Khan, has taken suo motu notice of the killings, summoning top officials including the Inspector General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) for a hearing on July 22.
Despite facing resistance from villagers, including stone-pelting by women, police continue to carry out operations in the region to apprehend other suspects. The DSP of the area has been suspended for alleged negligence.
CM Bugti: “No Room for Tribal Jirga Justice”
Bugti lashed out against illegal tribal jirgas, condemning their role in carrying out such extrajudicial killings.
“We do not recognize the rule of jirgas. The Constitution and the law of Pakistan are supreme,” he said. “No one has the right to kill in the name of honor.”
He also acknowledged the challenges in maintaining law and order in Balochistan due to the tribal structure and widespread access to weapons.
Test Case for Justice in Tribal Society
CM Bugti declared the Degari double murder a “test case” for the state, adding that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has instructed him to ensure swift and uncompromised justice.
“Where 100 murders could have happened, only two did—though even two are too many,” Bugti remarked, referring to the escalation that was narrowly avoided.
