Ulema condemn Balochistan ‘honor killing’ as a ‘brutal and grave crime'

Religious scholars across Pakistan strongly condemned the recent honour killing of a couple in Balochistan, calling it a 'brutal and grave crime,' and urged the government to ensure the harshest possible punishment for the perpetrators.

The couple was shot dead by a group of tribesmen for marrying by choice, a decision that reportedly enraged local elders.

A disturbing video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed armed men pointing pistols at the couple, who stood still, seemingly waiting to be shot. The suspects then opened fire, killing both in cold blood.

The shocking footage sparked widespread outrage, reigniting calls to abolish the barbaric practice of honour killings, which still persist in parts of the country.

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) demanded the immediate arrest of the suspects, stating, “The culprits should be prosecuted in the same area where the crime occurred, and justice must be delivered without delay.” 

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PUC Chairman Tahir Ashrafi echoed similar sentiments in his statement, urging swift action. “Those who killed a woman in the name of honour must be arrested without delay. The culprits should be punished at the very location of the crime and in a manner that sets a stern example for others,” he asserted.

The clerics who are the memebrs of PUC, stressed that “Seeking a woman’s consent before marriage is a clear requirement of Shariah, and there are numerous examples of this in Islamic jurisprudence."

Leading religious scholars voiced their deep concern over the murder and demanded justice. They called on the government to take decisive action to discourage such regressive acts carried out in the name of so-called honour.

Mufti Noman Naeem, rector of Jamia Banuria Aalamia in Karachi, denounced the incident, saying, 'Killing a woman in the name of honour is the worst form of ignorance and cruelty.'

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He maintatined that such acts are a serious crime according to sharia and the law. Islam equates the unjust killing of a single person with the killing of all humanity, he added.

Maulana Fazlur Rahim Ashrafi, rector of Jamia Ashrafia Lahore, also expressed strong condemnation of the couple’s murder. Honour killing is a grave violation of both religious teachings and human rights. Taking a woman's life in the name of honour is equivalent to killing all of humanity, he stated.

He further demanded that all those involved in this heinous crime be arrested immediately and brought to justice without any leniency.