Pakistani man films sister's honour killing by brother and father, all held after video goes viral

A Pakistani man has been arrested following a harrowing “honour” killing incident that has sparked outrage across the nation. Police confirmed the arrest in connection with the death of Maria Bibi, 22, allegedly at the hands of her brother Muhammad Faisal, hand in glove with their father Abdul Sattar, near Toba Tek Singh town in Punjab.

The incident, which occurred overnight on March 17, unfolded tragically as Maria Bibi was reportedly strangled in her family home. Shockingly, a video captured by another brother, Shehbaz, and widely circulated online, depicts Faisal carrying out the gruesome act on a bed while their father looks on.

In the footage, Shehbaz is seen pleading with his father to intervene, but his appeals are met with disregard as Faisal continues his assault on the helpless victim for over two minutes. After Maria became unresponsive, Faisal is offered water by his father, adding another chilling layer to the scene.

Police authorities became aware of the situation on March 24, upon discovering that Maria Bibi’s death was not due to natural causes. Taking swift action, they initiated an investigation and registered a case, assuming the role of family members in the case.

Ata Ullah, a police official from Toba Tek Singh, confirmed the developments, while underlining the gravity of the situation.

Sattar and Faisal were immediately arrested, while Shehbaz was arrested on Saturday evening to determine the extent of his involvement, the officer said.

The murder had all the hallmarks of an “honour” killing, he added. Shehbaz’s wife, who also appears in the video, has also been arrested.

Much of Pakistani society operates under a strict code of “honour”, with women beholden to their male relatives over choices around education, employment and who they can marry.

Hundreds of women are killed by men in Pakistan every year for allegedly breaching this code.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 316 “honour” crimes against women were recorded in the country in 2022.

But many cases go unreported, as families tend to protect the murderers - often male relatives.

The motive for the murder has not yet been established.

Police said that Faisal, the killer, allegedly caught his sister talking on a video call with an unknown man on several occasions.

The chief minister of Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz, has designated the matter as “high profile”, a term used for cases of public interest, although the legal system still allows for men to murder women with impunity.

With inputs from AFP