“Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me.”

These were the last words uttered by a woman who was shot and executed on the orders of a local tribal council in Pakistan’s Balochistan province for marrying against the will of her family.

This was another unfortunate case of honour killing, a long-standing patriarchal and morally backwards tradition in which victims, mostly women, are killed for bringing dishonour to their family and community.

However, in this case, it wasn’t just the woman murdered but also the man she married.

This wasn’t the first case, and unfortunately, won’t be the last. The recent honour killing case in Balochistan is a tragic reminder of a deep-rooted crisis fueled by patriarchal norms, feudal customs, and poor law enforcement.

A Brutal Tradition that has Endured in Pakistan 

The recent execution of a couple in the name of honour in Balochistan received considerable traction because it was recorded and circulated on video.

The police arrested 11 suspects, and a terrorism case was registered against the guilty parties. However, the grim truth is that law enforcement is weak against honour killings, and this cultural malaise is a national issue beyond Balochistan’s territory.

First and foremost, the custom of honour killing is rampant in tribal setups and rural feudal areas. Feudal traditions and tribal codes have a far more powerful grip than legal processes, preventing effective law enforcement.

While feudalistic setups are conducive to such practices, urban spaces also fail to protect women. Sana Yousaf, a TikTokker, was recently murdered in her own house when she rejected the advances of Umar Hayat, aka Kaka.

This was more of an individual act committed against a girl who was simply exercising her autonomy, a core theme surrounding all honour killing cases. However, it reflects the ill mindset of such men.

It was not just another high-profile honour killing case, but a reflection of a patriarchal system which promotes toxic masculinity and gendered violence.

We Have Failed to Protect Women as a Society 

Honour killings may be committed by one or a few individuals, but the recurring patterns and enduring traditions unearth a horrid reality.

We, as a society, have failed to protect our women. Personal cruelty is one thing, but institutional failures to safeguard women’s rights highlight a broader systemic issue.

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