KARACHI: A young couple who had entered into a free-will marriage were shot dead in Karachi’s Malir area on Monday in what police suspect was a case of honour killing.
According to police, 20-year-old Nadia and 25-year-old Najeebullah were travelling in a rented vehicle when unidentified armed men opened fire on them near Saudabad, killing both on the spot.
Officials said the couple had married by choice despite opposition from Nadia’s family. Following the marriage, Nadia’s father, Aslam, had registered an abduction case against Najeebullah at Sachal police station on May 19.
Police had subsequently arrested Najeebullah’s father in connection with the case.
On Monday, the couple appeared before a court in Malir and presented their nikah documents. After reviewing the case, the court disposed of the matter and ordered the release of Najeebullah’s father.
Investigators said the couple left the court “happily” and were on their way to a NADRA office in Saudabad when they were attacked.
Police said the assailants had been following the vehicle from the court premises and specifically targeted the rear seats where the couple were sitting.
Two other individuals, including the driver, were also present in the vehicle at the time of the attack and managed to escape unharmed.
Officials confirmed that the couple had hired the taxi for travel to Hyderabad.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon took notice of the incident and directed the Karachi police chief to submit a detailed report while ordering the immediate arrest of those responsible.
The killings have once again highlighted the issue of so-called honour crimes in Pakistan.
In January last year, a man allegedly shot dead his daughter and her friend in Karachi’s Malir area after reportedly finding them together at his residence in Rafah-e-Aam Society.
Pakistan criminalised honour killings in 2016 following the murder of social media personality Qandeel Baloch, closing a legal loophole that had previously allowed perpetrators to avoid punishment through family pardons.
However, rights organisations say enforcement remains weak, particularly in rural regions where tribal and feudal systems continue to influence local justice.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, at least 405 honour killings were reported across the country in 2024, with women accounting for the majority of victims.