Viral Video of Woman and Man's Killing in Balochistan: "Tribal Chief Ordered the Execution"

In Pakistan’s province of Balochistan, a video has gone viral showing a man and a woman being killed allegedly on the orders of a local tribal chief over accusations of Karo-Kari (a form of honor killing). Following this, the police have registered a case.

According to the FIR received from the police, the incident occurred in a remote area called Sanjidi Degar, located about 40 to 45 kilometers from the Hina Police Station in Quetta.

The FIR has named 15 individuals.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti claimed on social media that the video showing the killing of the man and woman was recorded a few days before Eid. He further stated that 11 suspects have been arrested so far.

However, police have not officially confirmed any arrests yet and have said the incident took place three days before Eid and the video surfaced 35 days after the event.

What’s in the video?

The video, which has been widely shared on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) since Sunday, allegedly shows armed men shooting and killing a man and a woman.

Although BBC has not independently verified the video or confirmed the identities of the individuals involved, the Chief Minister of Balochistan stated that he took notice of the video and claimed that the victims have been identified, and now "the law will take its course."

In the video, all the people are speaking in the Brahui language, a dialect commonly spoken in Quetta and Mastung.

The video appears to have been recorded in a mountainous, deserted area with dirt roads. Several Vigo and jeep-type vehicles can be seen parked during daylight, surrounded by men.

One woman, wearing a red outfit and a brown shawl, is seen being asked by the men to stand away from the vehicles. She says in Brahui, “Only bullets are allowed, nothing else.” The men respond, “Yes, only shooting is allowed.”

During this conversation, a man can be heard saying, “Take the Quran from their hands.” It is unclear whether the Quran was in the hands of the woman or the man. Meanwhile, others can be heard saying, “Quiet, quiet,” while one man hurls insults.

The woman offers no resistance and quietly steps away from the vehicles.

After a few moments of silence, gunshots are heard one after the other. It's unclear who was shot first, but after the initial shots, a voice says, “Kill that one too,” followed by a barrage of gunfire.

At one point, someone appears to express anger at the person recording the video, after which more shots are fired at the woman.

Government Reaction

The spokesperson for the Balochistan government called the incident "inhuman brutality" and said no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands.

What the FIR Says

Police say that after watching the viral video, a team was sent to the area to verify the incident.

A local informant confirmed to police that the incident occurred three days before Eid al-Adha in the Sanjidi Degar area.

The victims, Bano Bibi and Ehsanullah, were allegedly brought before a tribal chief for judgment.

According to the FIR, a total of 15 individuals, traveling in three vehicles, brought the victims to the site.

The tribal chief ruled that Bano Bibi and Ehsanullah were guilty of Karo-Kari and ordered their execution.

Fifteen people, including two unidentified suspects, used firearms to kill Bano Bibi and Ehsanullah in the Sanjidi plain, the FIR states. They also recorded the killing and posted the video on social media 35 days later.

Police have charged the suspects under Section 302 (murder), 7-ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act), and other sections for killing the victims and spreading fear through the public release of the video.

Authorities’ Statement

According to the Chief Minister, a terrorism case has been registered by the state after the video surfaced, and one suspect has already been arrested.

Later, in another post on his X account, the Chief Minister claimed that 11 suspects have been arrested and that an operation is ongoing. “All involved individuals will be brought to justice. The state stands with the oppressed!” he said.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind earlier said such brutal acts are intolerable and the criminals will be brought before the law.

Deputy Commissioner of Quetta, Major (R) Mehrullah Badini, told us that investigations into the video are ongoing.

He said that the video surfaced just yesterday, upon which the Chief Minister took notice and ordered an investigation into the matter.

He stated, “Preliminary findings suggest that the video is old. Authorities are currently trying to determine the exact location — whether it is the Marwar area of Quetta or the Dasht region in the Mastung district.”

He further mentioned that police officials in Quetta district are conducting the investigation, while in Mastung, the Levies Force is also looking into the matter.

The Deputy Commissioner added that the government has taken serious notice of the incident and is examining it from multiple angles.