After a video of a man and a woman being killed in Balochistan following a Jirga (tribal council) decision went viral, the matter was raised in the Senate. Both government and opposition members strongly condemned the incident, with calls for the perpetrators to be hanged and demands for the resignation of the Chief Minister, the cabinet, and the Inspector General.
During the Senate session, Senator Zarqa Suharwardy presented a motion to eliminate gender discrimination from society. She said the incident in Balochistan was shameful and urged the government to handle the matter seriously, stating that women in society are unsafe.
Senator Sherry Rehman said the horrifying incident in Balochistan is not just a women’s issue but a problem for the whole society. Regardless of the relationship between the woman and the man, the jirga acted unlawfully.
She added that the way the woman was shot is tragic, calling it not an honor killing but a killing of dishonor. She emphasized that those involved must be brought to justice.
She also mentioned that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has taken strict notice of the incident and instructed the Chief Minister of Balochistan to ensure no one is spared. Reports indicate that 13 suspects have been arrested.
Senator Khalida Ateeb said that such brutalities are taking place in the rural areas of Sindh and Balochistan. She questioned why these parallel, informal courts (jirgas) still exist in our society and insisted that they must be abolished.
She stressed that as long as these jirgas continue to operate, such atrocities will persist in Sindh and Balochistan.
Senator Aimal Wali Khan said the incident in Balochistan was heartbreaking and reminded that women hold a high status in Islam. He called for legislation to punish jirga members and said such individuals should be publicly hanged at D-Chowk.
