Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai, a prominent tribal leader and the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a couple in Balochistan’s Dagari area, was arrested and presented before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta. The court, presided over by Judge Muhammad Mubeen, granted a two-day physical remand to the Special Crime Investigation Wing (SCIW) for further interrogation, marking a significant step in the investigation of the so-called “honour” killing that has sparked widespread outrage across Pakistan.

The victims, identified as Bano Bibi and Ehsanullah Samalani, were reportedly executed on the orders of a tribal jirga in early June 2025, just before Eidul Azha, for allegedly marrying without family consent. A viral video showing the couple being led to a deserted area in Dagari, near Quetta, and shot dead—Bano seven times and Ehsanullah nine—drew national attention and condemnation.

FIR & Legal Action

Police have arrested 11 suspects, including Satakzai, with raids ongoing to apprehend others. The case, registered under anti-terrorism laws at Hanna-Urak Police Station, lists eight named and 15 unknown suspects. A first information report (FIR) was registered by Station House Officer (SHO) Naveed Akhtar at Quetta’s Hanna-Urak Police Station after receiving the video clip.

SHO Akhtar stated that he reached Balochistan’s Dagari, the area of crime as identified, which is situated at the outskirts of Quetta, along with his team. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the incident occurred three days before Eidul Azha in the area of Sanjidi in Dagari.

The Balochistan High Court, led by Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech, took suo motu notice, summoning the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Inspector General of Police for a hearing on July 22, 2025. A judicial magistrate also ordered the exhumation of Bano’s body for forensic analysis, conducted under court supervision at a Dagari coal mine graveyard.

CM Bugti’s Address

Addressing a press conference in Quetta on July 21, 2025, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killings as an “unforgivable crime” and clarified misinformation circulating on social media, stating that the victims were not married to each other, each having five children from prior marriages. “False claims are spreading online, suggesting the victims were a newlywed couple. That’s completely untrue,” Bugti said, emphasizing that no justification exists for such brutality. He confirmed that the state has taken up the case as the complainant, given the absence of family complaints, and vowed that “all involved will be brought to justice.” Bugti also suspended a local DSP for failing to report the incident promptly, citing it as a “serious lapse in duty.”

Legacy of Honour Killings In Pakistan

The killings have reignited debates over tribal jirgas and honour-based violence, with 346 such cases reported in Pakistan in 2024, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Political leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, condemned the act, with Bhutto-Zardari calling it “gender terrorism.”