QUETTA, Pakistan– Human rights activists from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Monday condemned Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif for making what they called “shameful” and dismissive remarks about the Baloch community, following the circulation of a disturbing video that showed a man and woman being shot dead in Balochistan in an alleged honor killing.
The unidentified couple was executed last month on the orders of a local tribal council for marrying against their families’ wishes, according to reports. A video of the incident recently went viral on social media, sparking outrage. Instead of acknowledging systemic failures, the Defense Minister blamed the Baloch community itself, saying, “The ones responsible for this oppression are your own brothers.”
Activists were quick to denounce the statement, calling it a “matter of regret and shame.” They accused Asif and the ruling Sharif government of shirking responsibility for the broader issues at play—lawlessness, public distrust in the judiciary and law enforcement, and the unchecked proliferation of weapons—by shifting the blame onto victims and their communities.
“If the same incident had happened during the tenure of a rival political party, these same officials would have been the first to point fingers,” said BYC activist Sammi Deen Baloch. “But now that they are in power, there is no remorse, no accountability. When you claim that ‘Balochistan is under your control,’ how do such brutal incidents happen in broad daylight? You are pushing people to lose faith in the state and turn to armed groups.”
Sammi cited a recent case in Balochistan’s Awaran district, where the family of a victim sought help from an armed group rather than the state. That group responded and helped the family—something the government failed to do.
She questioned whether the federal government realizes the dangerous precedent it is setting. “This trend is growing. When people can no longer rely on the state, they seek justice elsewhere.”
Sammi also pointed to a series of past cases in which serious allegations were made against government officials, including Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies (MNAs and MPAs), with little to no action taken. One such case involved the abduction of a young girl in Khuzdar six months ago. Although her family successfully secured her release through protest, no judicial action has been taken against the perpetrators, she said.
She further cited a more chilling example: “A current minister was once accused of murdering a mother and her two children. Not only was he granted immediate bail with the help of the state apparatus, but he was later brought into the Shehbaz Sharif government.” That minister now represents the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) in the Balochistan Assembly, she added, questioning the government’s moral compass.
“There may be flaws within Baloch society,” Sammi said, “but before pointing fingers, take a look at your own backyard—provinces that aren’t even conflict zones witness far more honor killings of women than Balochistan does.”
The BYC strongly condemned the murder of the couple—identified as Bano Baloch and her husband, Ehsan—calling it a “deep and permanent scar on the conscience of Balochistan.”
“No self-respecting society can condone such brutal and inhumane acts,” the organization stated. “In a region where women already face systemic repression and violence, this tragedy highlights how tribal and feudal powers—often protected by the state—act with total impunity. These atrocities are not isolated; they are symptoms of a broader culture of complicity and silence.” (Source: IANS)
