In Balochistan, women are murdered for love, disappeared for protest, and buried under layers of tribal authority – writes Alshufa Imam

For decades, Balochistan has stood at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, where the authority of tribal jirgas often outweighs the writ of the state. Despite legal bans, these parallel systems continue to dictate the most intimate aspects of life—marriage, inheritance, and women’s autonomy—under the rigid banner of “honor.” Across Pakistan, honor killings have claimed thousands of lives, disproportionately affecting women who dare to assert choice.

It was against this backdrop that, on June 4, 2025, an incident on the outskirts of Quetta, Balochistan, captured national attention. A tribal jirga [council] executed a young couple, Ehsan Ullah Samalani and Bano Bibi, for marrying against their families’ wishes. The perpetrators filmed and circulated the execution-style killing, sparking outrage across Pakistan. In the video, the couple is seen walking into a deserted area. Bano, handed a copy of the Quran, calmly says in Brahvi: “Come, walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me.” Moments later, she is shot three times, followed by Ehsan’s killing. The spectacle and ritual of the act highlighted the enforcement of tribal codes.

Balochistan functions predominantly under tribal institutions that wield authority over personal and moral affairs, often in parallel to the state. Despite a Supreme Court ruling outlawing jirgas in 2019, they continue to operate with implied legitimization, especially in remote regions where formal governance remains weak and absent. In such areas, these traditional systems dominate not only legal matters but everyday life, controlling decisions around marriage, mobility, land, inheritance, and even freedom of........

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