'Walk seven steps, then shoot me': Baloch woman’s final words echo across Pakistan in chilling honour killing video

A disturbing video circulating on social media has reignited debate around the practice of “honour” killings in Pakistan, showing the brutal execution of a young couple from Balochistan who allegedly married against their families’ wishes. The footage, filmed in broad daylight on the outskirts of Quetta, the provincial capital, has triggered nationwide and international condemnation.

The couple, identified as Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah, are seen in the video being brought to a deserted hilly area in a convoy of SUVs and pickup trucks. A group of men, many of whom appear to be onlookers or members of a local tribe, watch as the woman, her head draped in a shawl, is handed a copy of the Quran.

“Walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me,” Bano says to one of the men in the local Brahavi dialect, as she begins walking ahead, the holy book in her hands. The man follows her silently. Then, she says, “You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that.” The chilling moment that follows shows the man taking out a pistol and firing several shots at her from close range. On the third shot, Bano collapses, motionless.

The video continues with the sound of more gunfire. A bloodied man, identified as her husband Ahsan Ullah, is then seen lying next to her as the crowd around them erupts in celebration -- an apparent endorsement of the killing.

According to reports, the killing occurred just days before Eid al-Adha in May 2025. Local police have since launched a criminal investigation, identifying 13 suspects, including the woman's brother and a tribal leader named Sardar Satakzai. Quetta police chief Naveed Akhtar confirmed their arrests, stating that Satakzai allegedly ordered the killing after the woman’s brother lodged a complaint about her marriage, which had been conducted without his consent.

Human rights activists in Pakistan and abroad have condemned the killings, demanding urgent legal reforms and enforcement of existing laws to protect women who defy tribal customs and patriarchal norms. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported at least 405 “honour” killings in 2024, but experts believe the actual number is far higher due to rampant underreporting and community-enforced silence.

"This is not just a murder -- it's a public execution meant to send a message," said a women's rights activist based in Islamabad. "Until tribal impunity is challenged by the state, these killings will continue."

The viral video has forced authorities to act swiftly, but critics say similar cases in the past have often failed to result in convictions due to community pressure and outdated legal loopholes that allow families to "forgive" the killers, who are often relatives themselves.