‘Honour killing’ case: ATC extends tribal leader’s remand for 10 days

QUETTA: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Quetta-I, presided over by Judge Muhammad Ali Mobeen, extended the physical remand of Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai and Bashir Ahmed for 10 days on Wednesday in a case of double murder allegedly committed in the name of honour in Digari area of Quetta.

The accused, Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai and Bashir Ahmed, who are charged in the honour killing case, were brought to the court under strict security. During the hearing, the Serious Crimes Investigation Wing Quetta requested an extension in the physical remand for further investigation. The court approved the request and ordered a 10-day extension.

Earlier, as tribal chief Sardar Satakzai was being brought to court, a journalist asked him: “Sardar, it is alleged that you ordered the killings. What do you say?” In response, Satakzai said: “You should speak with God as your witness. Do not make statements without investigation.” Meanwhile, a video has surfaced on social media showing a woman holding the Holy Quran in her hands and speaking in the Brahui language. She identifies herself as Gul Jan, the mother of Bano — one of the victims.

“I am speaking the truth before the Holy Quran. I am not lying. Sarfraz Bugti! The truth is, Bano was the mother of five children. She was not a young girl,” she says in the video.

Gul Jan also mentioned the ages of Bano’s children, stating that the eldest son is 18 years old and the youngest daughter is six.

“Can the conscience of any Baloch accept that a mother of so many children would run away with another man?” she asked. “Yes, we killed them. But this was not dishonourable; it was done according to Baloch traditions.”

Addressing Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, she added: “You raid our homes. What is our fault? Whatever we did, we did in the name of honour. We committed no sin.”

According to Gul Jan, her daughter Bano and a man named Ehsanullah were neighbours. Bano had run away with Ehsanullah and stayed with him for 25 days. She later returned, and her husband forgave her for the sake of their children and agreed to take her back but Ehsanullah did not stop.

“He threatened us. He even marked a cross over my son’s photo and said he would kill him,” Gul Jan claimed. “We could not tolerate this disgrace and dishonour any longer,” she said.