QUETTA – In a startling press conference, Balochistan's Chief Minister, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has revealed shocking new details about the viral honor killing case in the Sanjidi-Degari area, stating that the murdered man and woman were not in a marital relationship as had been widely reported across social media. The Chief Minister confirmed that the woman was a mother of five children and the man also had four to five children of his own, a revelation that adds a complex and tragic new dimension to the case.
During the press conference in Quetta, CM Bugti provided a significant update on the investigation, announcing that eleven suspects have now been arrested in connection with the brutal jirga-ordered murders. He also stated that a local Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has been suspended for failing to report the matter to the government in a timely manner. Vowing to make this a "test case" for his government, the Chief Minister asserted that the state stands with the victims and will dismantle the parallel justice systems that enable such atrocities.
Post-mortem reveals Balochistan woman shot seven times, man nine times
The post-mortem report has confirmed that the woman was shot seven times and the man nine times, according to Dr. Ayesha, the police surgeon overseeing the examination. The autopsies were conducted on-site at the Degari coal mine graveyard after the police exhumed the bodies under judicial orders.
A tribal elder, Sherbaz Khan, was arrested in connection with the killings and has been placed on a two-day physical remand. He is currently in custody of the Crime Investigation Wing.
The exhumation was carried out following the directives of the judicial magistrate, enabling police officials and medical personnel to perform the necessary forensic procedures.
Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Rozi Khan Barrech, has taken suo motu notice of the incident. He has summoned both the Additional Chief Secretary for Home and the Inspector General of Police to appear before the court.
The tragic incident has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum. Prominent parties including the PPP, PML-N, PTI, and MQM have strongly denounced the killings and demanded strict action against those responsible.
According to the FIR, the case has been registered under Sections 302 (murder), 149 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), and 147 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
Setting the Record Straight: A New Narrative Emerges
Addressing the narrative that had captured the nation's sympathy, Chief Minister Bugti emphasized the importance of factual accuracy. "The public must know the facts," he stated. "It was being said on social media that they were a newlywed couple, but that was not the case. There was no marital relationship between the victims. The woman was a mother of five children, and the murdered man also had four or five children."
This clarification challenges the simple "love marriage" story that initially defined the tragedy. While it does not lessen the brutality of the crime, it points to a more complex situation, possibly involving accusations of an extramarital affair, which in the context of a tribal jirga, would still be met with a death sentence. The Chief Minister's statement aims to separate the emotional, and partially incorrect, social media narrative from the official facts of the case as the investigation proceeds.
Investigation Update: 11 Arrests and a Suspension
Providing a detailed update on the government's response, CM Bugti confirmed that action was taken even before the video of the murders went viral. "I took notice of the matter and ordered the IG (Inspector General of Police) to arrest the accused," he said, indicating that the government was aware of the incident prior to the widespread public outrage.
He announced that the law enforcement crackdown has been effective. "So far, 11 people have been arrested in the case, and raids are being conducted to arrest more suspects." He made a firm commitment that "whoever is involved in the case will be arrested and presented in court."
In a significant move to ensure accountability within law enforcement, the Chief Minister also announced the suspension of the local DSP. He explained that it was the officer's duty to inform the government about such a grave matter, and his failure to do so constituted a serious lapse in responsibility. This action underscores the government's stated intention to address not only the crime itself but also the negligence that may have allowed it to happen.
A "Test Case" Against the Jirga System
Chief Minister Bugti framed this case as a pivotal moment for his administration's stance on extra-judicial violence. "I am taking this case as a test case," he declared, reinforcing his government's position. "From day one, I have been saying that the state has always stood with the oppressed. In this case, too, the state is with the oppressed."
When questioned about the prevalence of tribal councils, he did not mince words. "Many such jirgas take place, and they have been stopped," he said. "We will not promote jirgas. We have to follow the constitution." This is one of the strongest statements against the powerful parallel justice system to come from a Chief Minister of the province, signaling a potential shift in policy towards asserting the state's legal authority.
The initial story of Bano and Person, which focused on their courage in the face of a brutal system, captured the nation's heart. As covered in our initial report, The Murder of Bano and Person: Pakistan's Honor Killing Crisis, the woman's reported last words became a symbol of defiance. While the new facts change the context of their relationship, they do not change the fundamental injustice of their murder at the hands of a jirga. The latest developments, as one suspect's arrest was confirmed and now a total of eleven are in custody, show that the public outcry has forced the state's hand, turning this tragedy into a crucial battleground for the rule of law in Pakistan.