Young Couple Murdered in Mardan in the Name of Honor

Police have transferred the bodies to Rustam Hospital for postmortem examination and registered a double murder case. Raids are being conducted to arrest the suspect.

In a tragic incident in Mardan's Rustam area, a young couple was killed in the name of honor, with the accused managing to escape after the crime.

According to police, Haroon-ur-Rashid, a resident of Qajir Banda in Rustam Tehsil, reported that he heard gunshots late at night between Monday and Tuesday. Upon rushing outside, he found his younger brother Mustafa Khan and a young woman, (K), daughter of Zulfiqar, lying lifeless in the fields. Under the light of a garden bulb, Haroon identified Zulfiqar, the woman’s father, leaving the scene with a firearm after allegedly killing his daughter and Mustafa Khan in the name of honor.

Police have transferred the bodies to Rustam Hospital for postmortem examination and registered a double murder case. Raids are being conducted to arrest the suspect.

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Sources revealed that the accused, Zulfiqar, allegedly caught Mustafa Khan and his daughter (K) in a compromising position. He later took them to a nearby orchard under the cover of darkness and shot them dead.

Activist Calls for Social Awareness and Justice

Women’s rights activist Nusrat Ara condemned the killings, stating that no religion, including Islam, permits such actions. “Our faith allows a man and woman to choose their partner and marry with mutual consent. Instead of killing them, the families should have solemnized their marriage and sent them away,” she said.

She urged parents to develop a friendly relationship with their children, allowing open communication about emotions and choices. “Many cases like this remain unreported as the killings are often disguised as suicides. Moreover, families frequently settle the matter outside of court, leading to repeated incidents,” she added.

Nusrat Ara also highlighted a similar case in Shangla district last month, where a couple was killed years after their marriage. A young man from Shangla had married a woman from Torghar district with her consent. Despite having two children, the woman’s brother killed the couple, citing honor as the motive.

The activist stressed the need for awareness, strict law enforcement, and holding perpetrators accountable to prevent such heinous crimes.