Another honour killing rocks Pakistan, couple shot dead on court's order in Karachi

Karachi: In a case of honour killing, a couple was shot dead on the orders of a tribal court in this Pakistani city for eloping to marry.

Azmat, 30, and Irfana, 18 were killed in the Shah Latif township on the outskirts of Karachi on Wednesday, a police officer said.

They had eloped and got married a year back.

"The couple was living in Banaras colony in Orangi town after getting married. Apparently few days back their families located them and convinced them everything will be forgiven and they just have to appear before a Jirga to settle the matter," the Station House Officer (SHO) of the area said.

He said when the couple appeared before the Jirga it passed an order that since they had brought dishonor their families they deserved to be given the death penalty.

The SHO said according to an informer who was present at the Jirga the couple were lined up and shot dead by three persons identified as Arshad, Nizam and Saeed.

"Their families than took their dead bodies and buried them in the local graveyard but we have now got orders from the court to get their bodies exhumed for post mortem," he said.

Police have arrested seven persons involved in the case.

Honour killing is a menace still prevalent in many parts of Pakistan.

In July British Pakistani woman, was allegedly killed by her parents for marrying a man of her choice in Jehlum district of Punjab.

In April, police arrested a young man in Karachi?s Orangi Town for slitting his teenage sister?s throat and watching her bleed to death.

In March this year, a man shot dead both his sisters in Sahiwal district in Punjab after suspecting them of having affairs.

The government recently passed a bill in the parliament invoking stronger punishments for those involved in honour killing after model and social media celebrity Qandeel Baluch was strangled to death by her brother and two other relatives in Multan.