The Balochistan High Court has taken suo motu notice of the alleged honour killing of a couple in Degari, a suburban area of Quetta, where a young man and woman were murdered reportedly for marrying of their own will.

The case has sparked outrage following the emergence of a disturbing video on social media.

Chief Justice Hashim Kakar of the Balochistan High Court summoned the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Inspector General of Police Balochistan to appear before the court on July 22.

The suo motu notice comes amid mounting public pressure and condemnation over the brutal killing of Bano Satakzai and Ehsanullah Samalani.

The couple, who had reportedly entered into a love marriage, were killed in Degari just three days before Eid-ul-Adha.

Authorities took action only after footage of the incident surfaced online, prompting Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti to take notice. The Chief Justice’s suo motu notice soon followed.

Meanwhile, Judicial Magistrate Quetta Akhtar Shah ordered the exhumation of the grave of Bano Satakzai to gather forensic evidence. The grave was exhumed under the magistrate’s supervision in Degari as part of the ongoing investigation.

Initially, the case drew little attention, but after the video went viral, the state became the complainant and registered a case at Hana Orak police station under anti-terrorism and murder laws. The FIR was lodged on the complaint of the Station House Officer.

Tribal elder, bodyguards among 20 arrested

Police officials stated that a total of 15 suspects have been named in the FIR, while 20 individuals have been arrested, including the main accused Bashir Ahmed and tribal elder Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai.

The latter, accused of issuing the ‘Karukari’ verdict, was arrested along with his four brothers and two bodyguards.

Victims were presented before Sardar, then executed

According to the complaint, the couple was brought before Sardar Sherbaz Khan, the head of the Satakzai tribe, who declared them guilty of ‘Karukari’ and allegedly ordered their execution. The victims were later taken in vehicles to a remote area in Degari and shot dead.

The named suspects include Shah Wazir, Jalal, Tikri Munir, Bakhtiar, Malik Amir, Ajab Khan, Jan Muhammad, Bashir Ahmed, and 15 unidentified persons. Police say they are probing multiple aspects of the case, including motive and tribal involvement.

CM Bugti vows justice for victims

Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed the arrests and said that the government would ensure justice. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “The law will take its course. Those who challenge the writ of the state and commit such barbaric acts will not be spared.”

He added that law enforcement agencies had been directed to act with full seriousness and arrest all those involved.

Government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the case was a top priority and intelligence agencies were actively investigating the incident. Civil society groups and human rights organisations have strongly condemned the killings and urged authorities to hold all perpetrators accountable without delay.