Over the past six years, Balochistan has witnessed a disturbing rise in killings carried out in the name of so-called honor.
According to a recent report by a non-governmental organization, a total of 232 men and women have been murdered across various districts of the province from 2019 to the present year.
The report reveals that Naseerabad district recorded the highest number of such incidents, with 73 individuals killed over allegations related to “immorality.” Jaffarabad followed with 23 cases, while Mastung, Kachhi, Jhal Magsi, and Quetta reported 18, 17, 18, and 11 killings respectively.
The annual breakdown of cases underscores the persistence of this brutal practice, with 52 honor-related murders in 2019, 51 in 2020, and 24 in 2021.
In 2022, the number stood at 28, followed by 24 in 2023. So far in 2024, 33 individuals have fallen victim to such crimes, including 19 women and 14 men.
The report also points to a lack of accountability, noting that in most cases, legal proceedings are either incomplete or never initiated, allowing the perpetrators to escape punishment.
Human rights organizations and social activists have voiced grave concern over the ongoing trend, calling on the government to enact and enforce strict legislation to combat honor-based violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
