Two Killed in Swat ‘Honour’ Incident, Suspect on the Run
Another case of ‘honour’ killing shakes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting Pakistan’s ongoing gender-based violence crisis
A tragic ‘honour’-based double murder unfolded late Sunday evening in the Bashigram area of Madyan, Swat, where a man and a woman were killed by the woman’s husband, police confirmed on Monday. The suspect, currently on the run, accused his wife of an illicit relationship and carried out the killings in a calculated act of violence.
According to the first information report (FIR) lodged by a close relative of the deceased woman, the accused first shot the man dead. He then returned home, fatally shot his wife, and further attacked her with an axe. The FIR was registered under Sections 302 and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to premeditated murder and attempted murder.
Swat police spokesperson Moin Ali said District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Umar Khan has directed local authorities to investigate the case thoroughly from all possible angles. A search operation is underway to capture the accused.
This is not an isolated incident. On June 15, multiple ‘honour’ killings occurred across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the deaths of a couple in Mardan and a 17-year-old boy in Martung tehsil. Similarly, on May 26, a man in Upper Dir district shot and killed three people, including a child, under the pretext of family honour.
Data from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) indicates that the issue remains deeply entrenched in society. Between January and November 2024 alone, 346 people were murdered in the name of ‘honour’. In 2023, the figure stood at 490, and in 2022, it was a staggering 590.
Despite national and international condemnation, ‘honour’ killings persist due to a mix of cultural norms, weak law enforcement, and social acceptance of gender-based violence. The majority of victims are women, and most cases are either underreported or resolved through informal tribal mechanisms that fail to deliver justice.
Human rights advocates continue to call for stronger legal enforcement, community education, and protective mechanisms for women at risk. Without systemic change, these brutal acts will continue to claim lives and reinforce a culture of impunity.
This latest tragedy in Swat is another grim reminder that urgent and sustained action is needed to end ‘honour’-based violence in Pakistan once and for all.
