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Express Tribune
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
There is no honour in this
A few days ago, a graphic video surfaced on social media, shaking the collective conscience of Balochistan. It showed a man and a woman being gunned down in cold blood in the Digari region near Quetta, the provincial capital. What followed was a wave of public outrage, intense media coverage, and swift government responses. The Digari double murder, now confirmed as an honour killing, is not just a criminal case but a stark reflection of a society caught between legal responsibility and tribal authority, between constitutional rights and deeply rooted patriarchal control. The brutality of the incident was amplified by the digital age, but became the reason that it went viral. A video, reportedly filmed by the perpetrators themselves, circulated widely, displaying the execution of two individuals, later identified as Ehsanullah and Bano Bibi. The graphic footage sparked horror across Balochistan and rest of the country, not just for its violence, but for the manner in which the killings were carried out. Initial social media reports suggested that the victims were a couple who had married against their families' wishes, framing the incident as a typical honour killing linked to a romantic elopement. However, officials later clarified that both individuals were already married with children and did not have such a relationship, challenging the initial narrative. This clarification, however, did not soften the nature of the crime, it only deepened the tragedy. State as complainant: a shift or singular response? In many honour killing cases across Pakistan, silence is weaponised. Families often refuse to register complaints, either out of fear, complicity, or adherence to tribal codes. As a result, justice is obstructed before it even begins. The Digari case followed a similar initial pattern — both families declined to file a First Information Report (FIR), leaving the state to intervene. In a rare move, the Government of Balochistan stepped in as the complainant, registering the case under anti-terrorism laws. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti declared on X (formerly Twitter), 'Justice will be served, and all legal channels will be pursued.' Authorities swiftly used NADRA's facial recognition tools to identify suspects from the viral video, resulting in over a dozen arrests. Among those taken into custody were tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Khan Satakzai and Bashir Ahmed, both remanded by the Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta. Officials insisted that tribal status would not shield the accused from prosecution. Yet, this sudden demonstration of state resolve raises important questions: Is this a watershed moment in how the state handles gender-based violence? Or is it a reactive posture spurred more by digital visibility than by policy or principle? Because for every case that goes viral, there are countless others that never make headlines. What about Shazia Bibi, killed by her husband in Naseerabad last October over allegations of an affair? Or Asiya Bibi, murdered by her uncle on July 18, this year under similar suspicions? Both cases barely registered outside their immediate communities, even though after being reported in media, like many others, they are now fading from public memory. The state's proactive role in Digari is notable, but it highlights an uncomfortable inconsistency: justice appears to depend on visibility. For women whose deaths are not filmed, tweeted, or shared, the system still remains largely indifferent. A mother's confession In a development that blurred the lines between justice and belief, a video emerged showing the mother of the female victim, Gul Jan, holding a copy of the Holy Quran and openly confessing to the murder. 'Yes, we killed them,' she says in Brahui language, 'but this was not dishonourable; it was done according to Baloch traditions.' Gul Jan, who described how her daughter had left home for 25 days and her paramour allegedly threatened her brother, did not express remorse. Instead, she justified the act as necessary to restore honour. This public confession reveals the moral architecture within which such acts occur. Gul Jan was arrested and handed over to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing. Yet, her defiant tone resonates with many in rural Balochistan. Political reactions and institutional condemnations Unusually, the Digari incident prompted rare political unity. The Balochistan Assembly unanimously passed a joint resolution condemning the murders. Prominent figures like Rubaba Buledi, Raheela Durrani, and Shahida Rauf called for tougher enforcement and the dismantling of tribal courts that operate outside the law. 'No one has the right to act as judge, jury, and executioner,' the resolution stated. While encouraging, these statements must be examined critically. Historically, such condemnations have not translated into concrete legislative change. In the past five years many have been killed in the name of honour across Balochistan. Very few cases reached the courts; even fewer resulted in convictions. Tribal conundrum Perhaps the most disturbing layer of this case is the underlying tribal code that continues to sanction and legitimise such killings under the banner of tradition. Reports suggest that a tribal jirga allegedly issued a formal decree for the victims' deaths — a claim that, while unconfirmed, reflects the enduring presence of parallel justice systems in parts of Balochistan. Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai of the National Party, along with other Sarawan chieftains, publicly condemned the arrest of Sardar Sherbaz Khan Satakzai, calling it baseless and a violation of the sanctity of his chadar and char dewari — the cultural principle safeguarding one's home and honour. They demanded his immediate release. Former chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has also supported a tribal investigation into the case. Critics argue that tribal processes are often applied selectively — protecting influential families while penalising the marginalised. Women, in particular, bear the brunt of this dual system, where protection is determined not by rights, but by status. Maulana Hidayat, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan, added another dimension to the debate, condemning the killings while simultaneously rejecting the influence of what he terms 'Western culture.' 'This boyfriend and girlfriend culture is against Islam, Baloch and Pashtoon traditions,' he says. 'I condemn this killing, but I will not allow someone to enter my house and take my daughter, nor will I allow my daughter to elope with someone.' His statement reflects the complex interplay between religion and tradition. Advisor to the Chief Minister on Women Development, MPA Dr Rubaba Buledi, responded to such justifications by pointing out that the true tribal values of justice, honour, and protection have been manipulated to justify gender-based violence —especially against those without power or privilege. An ongoing pattern According to Allah Uddin Khilji provincial Director of the Aurat Foundation, over 250 women were killed in the name of honour in Balochistan between 2019 and 2024. In 2024 alone, 43 women and 14 men have been murdered under accusations of [blackening a woman's character]. 'This is gender-based violence, not cultural tradition,' Khilji says. 'It's a crime rooted in misogyny, not honour.' Social Activist Hameeda Noor emphasises that these incidents are often systemic. 'Watta satta marriages, child brides, giving women away as blood money — these are all symptoms of a deeper crisis,' she says. Moreover, as Noor highlights, many such incidents remain unreported. Institutions only document what's officially registered, while untold numbers of women disappear silently. Courts vs jirgas Activist Bahram Lehri frames the issue of honour killings within the wider context of state failure and economic collapse. Referring to the Digari double murder, he points out that the incident took place over a month before the video surfaced online yet local authorities took no action until public outrage forced a response. 'There is no governmental writ,' he states. 'This incident is an example — as the video came out on social media after one and a half months. The area has Levies and security forces, but nobody found out about it until it went viral.' Lehri further connects the violence to systemic economic disenfranchisement: 'There is a saying that idle men's minds are homes for the devil,' he says. 'The economic question can't be separated, as the men are jobless, unemployed, and idle — their minds are homes for the devil.' According to him, the lack of trust in the judicial system leads people to take matters into their own hands: 'People don't trust the judicial system and courts. FIR wasn't even registered in the current case, and now the state itself has become the complainant in the case.' He adds that the tribal code of conduct allows no room for negotiation in such matters: 'Tribal code of conduct is zero tolerance over such matters of honour and people often tend to go for their own ways in settling these issues and the result is killings in the name of honour.' Lehri's comments highlight the grim intersection of poverty, failed governance, and entrenched tribal authority, where women's lives are often lost in the name of restoring so-called honour—and justice is left hanging in the balance. A lost opportunity for reform The governance of Balochistan remains ensnared in a paradox — a clash between the formal legal framework of the state and the entrenched tribal structures that continue to wield immense influence over society. This tension dates back decades. In the 1970s, Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, with the support of then-Chief Minister Sardar Attaullah Mengal, made a bold attempt to abolish the tribal chieftaincy system, recognising its incompatibility with justice and democratic governance. Despite provincial assembly approval, this resolution was quietly shelved by the federal government under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leaving the tribal hierarchy intact. Ironically, today the mainstream Pakistani media paints Nawab Khair Baksh Marri and Sardar Attaullah Mengal through a lens of hereditary and feudal lords and Bhutto as a champion of democracy. History tells otherwise! The recent brutal honour killing in Digari is a grim reminder of this unresolved contradiction — where tribal authority and traditions supersede legal protections, and where the state's writ falters in protecting basic human rights. This case is more than a local tragedy; it reflects the deep-rooted governance failures and societal fractures in Balochistan. The persistence of tribal dominance, coupled with weak state enforcement and political complicity, perpetuates cycles of violence, especially against women. It raises fundamental questions about the rule of law, the reach of justice, and the cost of political expediency in a province long caught between tradition and modernity. The gendered machinery of silence The Digari double murder is not an isolated act of brutality — it fits into a broader and deeply troubling landscape of systemic impunity, where violence, particularly gender-based violence, thrives under the shadow of entrenched power. The recent exposé by international influencer and content creator Angela Carson offers a revealing lens into how both men and women — local and foreign — can become targets of exploitation when legal and political institutions are co-opted by the powerful. Carson alleges that during her time in Pakistan, she experienced intimidation, abuse, and threats to her safety, with some of the alleged perpetrators linked to elite political circles — including individuals reportedly associated with the Chief Minister's House. Her claims suggest a disturbing pattern in which personal and institutional power is used not to protect the vulnerable, but to suppress them. What Carson's experience makes clear is that the abuse of power is not always violent in its methods, but it is always violent in its impact. Victims are often gaslighted, discredited, or shamed into silence. In Balochistan, women like Bano Bibi are murdered under the pretext of restoring honour. Elsewhere, survivors are isolated through smear campaigns or legal threats — often orchestrated by those with unchecked access to political or institutional authority. The link between Carson's allegations and the Digari killings lies not in the specifics of the cases but in the systems that allow such harms to occur. Whether through tribal decrees or political protectionism, these systems share one aim: to protect the reputation of the powerful at the cost of justice for the vulnerable. What can be done? While federal law already criminalises honour killings, implementation remains patchy. As Fauzia Shaheen, former and first chairperson of Balochistan Commission on Status of Women argues, 'There is no need for a separate honour killing law in Balochistan as the federal one covers it but there is an urgent need for implementation.' She advocates for a new provincial law to counter harmful traditional practices against women. Starting with mapping those customs and proposing protective measures. Meanwhile, Buledi emphasises a multi-pronged strategy: Speedy prosecution and deterrent punishment. Support services for at-risk women. Community policing and gender-sensitivity training. Public campaigns to redefine 'honour.' Yet, perhaps the most powerful solution lies not in policy alone, but in collective societal change. 'The role of religious leaders, communities, and the media is critical,' Buledi says. 'We must reject the very notion that a woman's life can be sacrificed to uphold some distorted sense of honour.' The price of silence The Digari double murder is not an anomaly, it is the logical outcome of a system where law is negotiable, tribal power is unchallenged, and women's lives are expendable. If not for a viral video, this tragedy might have faded into obscurity, like so many others. It has now become a test case for the government, for civil society, and for everyone who seeks a future where justice does not bow to tradition, where women's lives are not bargaining chips, and where silence no longer shields murder. Balochistan stands at a crossroads. Whether this moment leads to systemic reform or vanishes into another forgotten chapter depends not just on arrests and resolutions but on a sustained, collective reckoning with the toxic myths of honour that continue to cost lives. Mohammad Zafar Baloch is a freelance journalist based in Quetta All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Balochistan govt reassures public after Mastung incident
Spokesperson for the Government of Balochistan, Shahid Rind, on Thursday addressed a press conference in Quetta, outlining the provincial government's swift response to recent security incidents and reiterating its commitment to improved governance and institutional transparency. Commenting on the security breach that occurred in Mastung a day earlier, Rind acknowledged that the incident briefly created a sense of unease among the public. However, he emphasized that the state responded promptly, with security forces neutralizing four militants in an immediate counter-operation, helping to restore calm and public confidence. Rind also confirmed that Rs40 million were looted during the incident, largely from private banks operating with independent security arrangements. He said the provincial administration is now reviewing security protocols and is working to bolster protection for both public and private financial institutions to prevent such incidents in the future. Addressing concerns regarding the formation of District Coordination Committees (DCCs) — a new initiative under the provincial budget — Rind defended the move, describing it as a step toward enhanced accountability and better oversight of development schemes. He rejected allegations of administrative overreach, clarifying that Deputy Commissioners have not been given the role of Project Directors in these committees.
Business Recorder
29-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Flood project: Pakistan govt seeks $31m financing boost from World Bank
ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has requested the World Bank for increasing the financing envelope by $31 million as well as restructuring of Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project. The request was made to better align the project with current implementation capacity, performance of the component and operational their readiness, and a stronger focus on resilience. Official sources revealed that the request was based on series of discussions from between senior management of the World Bank, government of Pakistan, and government of Balochistan. The project development objective (PDO) is to improve livelihoods and essential services and enhance flood risk protection in selected communities affected by the 2022 floods. World Bank rates IFRAP implementation as 'moderately unsatisfactory' The proposed additional financing of $31 million and reallocation of US$54 million from other components will support activities under Component 3 of the Parent Project which will increase impact and expand the provision of multi-hazard resilient housing units and livelihoods in Balochistan. The AF will facilitate increasing funding for the housing subsidy grant to 102,000 beneficiaries from the current 35,100. The Additional Financing (AF) aims to scale up housing reconstruction activities in Balochistan Province, covering additional eligible beneficiaries whose homes were affected by the 2022 floods. The affected households were initially identified through the damage assessment conducted by the Government of Balochistan (GoB) and subsequently by the implementing partners of the Project. The AF also includes a Level 2 Restructuring, which reduces the scope of activities under Components 1 and 4 of the Project. It also modifies the Results Framework (RF) to update indicators and targets, including the addition of a relevant World Bank Group Corporate Scorecard FY24–30 indicator. The restructuring does not include any new types of activities, and the Project Development Objective (PDO) remains unchanged. With this AF, the total Project commitment will increase to US$244 million. The need for AF was identified during the implementation of IFRAP. Balochistan was among the provinces most severely affected by the 2022 floods. The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment estimated damage to the housing sector in Balochistan at over $400 million. To address this challenge, the Parent Project was initiated with $75 million equivalent IDA credit for housing reconstruction. However, a significant financing gap remains to fully rehabilitate the damaged housing units in the province. The revised project description is as follows: 12. Component 1 – Community Infrastructure Rehabilitation. This component will finance the rehabilitation of priority community infrastructure damaged by floods, including irrigation and flood protection infrastructure, roads and bridges located in calamity-declared districts of Balochistan. The guiding principle is to build back better with improved infrastructure based on climate risks, improved engineering design standards, and improved construction and maintenance to enhance resilience. The component will also include the technical assistance needed for the design and supervision of the works and for the development of operation and maintenance of the infrastructure. 13. Component 2: Strengthening Hydromet and Climate Services. This component will enhance the PMD capacity to generate and use hydrometeorological information for decision-making, particularly by expanding coverage in the western region, benefiting Balochistan as well as other parts of the country. While financing remains unchanged, cost escalations have reduced the number of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) from 300 to 110. To ensure sustainability and impact, deployment will prioritize high-risk areas such as flash flood-prone regions in South Punjab and Sindh, aligning with PMD's operational capacity. 14. Component 3: Resilient Housing Reconstruction and Restoration. This component will finance: (i) resilient housing reconstruction grants to beneficiaries for the reconstruction of core housing units damaged by floods; and (ii) institutional strengthening and technical assistance for the reconstruction. It will also support the objective of improved livelihoods generation in the construction sector and allied subsectors. 15. Component 4: Project Management, Technical Assistance, and Institutional Strengthening. This component will support: (i) project management for the FPMU and the provincial PIUs; (ii) technical assistance for M&E, Project Supervision and Implementation Assistance (PSIA), preparation of SoP2, and preparation of community flood resilience plans; and (iii) institutional strengthening through capacity building and drafting a Water Act. 16. Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response. This component facilitates the provision of immediate response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as needed. Following an adverse natural event that causes a major disaster or emergency, the GoP may request the Bank to reallocate project funds to support response and reconstruction. Resources will be allocated to this component as needed during implementation. 17. Results Framework. There are no changes to the PDO. The RF has been updated in line with the revised project design. The indicator 'people with enhanced protection to flood risk' is revised to align with the corporate scorecard indicator 'people with enhanced resilience to climate risks', including its sub-indicators reporting on youth and women. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
28-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Flood project: Govt seeks $31m financing boost from World Bank
ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has requested the World Bank for increasing the financing envelope by $31 million as well as restructuring of Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project. The request was made to better align the project with current implementation capacity, performance of the component and operational their readiness, and a stronger focus on resilience. Official sources revealed that the request was based on series of discussions from between senior management of the World Bank, government of Pakistan and government of Balochistan. The project development objective (PDO) is to improve livelihoods and essential services and enhance flood risk protection in selected communities affected by the 2022 floods. World Bank rates IFRAP implementation as 'moderately unsatisfactory' The proposed additional financing of $31 million and reallocation of US$54 million from other components will support activities under Component 3 of the Parent Project which will increase impact and expand the provision of multi-hazard resilient housing units and livelihoods in Balochistan. The AF will facilitate increasing funding for the housing subsidy grant to 102,000 beneficiaries from the current 35,100. The Additional Financing (AF) aims to scale up housing reconstruction activities in Balochistan Province, covering additional eligible beneficiaries whose homes were affected by the 2022 floods. The affected households were initially identified through the damage assessment conducted by the Government of Balochistan (GoB) and subsequently by the implementing partners of the Project. The AF also includes a Level 2 Restructuring, which reduces the scope of activities under Components 1 and 4 of the Project. It also modifies the Results Framework (RF) to update indicators and targets, including the addition of a relevant World Bank Group Corporate Scorecard FY24–30 indicator. The restructuring does not include any new types of activities, and the Project Development Objective (PDO) remains unchanged. With this AF, the total Project commitment will increase to US$244 million. The need for AF was identified during the implementation of IFRAP. Balochistan was among the provinces most severely affected by the 2022 floods. The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment estimated damage to the housing sector in Balochistan at over $400 million. To address this challenge, the Parent Project was initiated with $75 million equivalent IDA credit for housing reconstruction. However, a significant financing gap remains to fully rehabilitate the damaged housing units in the province. The revised project description is as follows: 12. Component 1 – Community Infrastructure Rehabilitation. This component will finance the rehabilitation of priority community infrastructure damaged by floods, including irrigation and flood protection infrastructure, roads and bridges located in calamity-declared districts of Balochistan. The guiding principle is to build back better with improved infrastructure based on climate risks, improved engineering design standards, and improved construction and maintenance to enhance resilience. The component will also include the technical assistance needed for the design and supervision of the works and for the development of operation and maintenance of the infrastructure. 13. Component 2: Strengthening Hydromet and Climate Services. This component will enhance the PMD capacity to generate and use hydrometeorological information for decision-making, particularly by expanding coverage in the western region, benefiting Balochistan as well as other parts of the country. While financing remains unchanged, cost escalations have reduced the number of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) from 300 to 110. To ensure sustainability and impact, deployment will prioritize high-risk areas such as flash flood-prone regions in South Punjab and Sindh, aligning with PMD's operational capacity. 14. Component 3: Resilient Housing Reconstruction and Restoration. This component will finance: (i) resilient housing reconstruction grants to beneficiaries for the reconstruction of core housing units damaged by floods; and (ii) institutional strengthening and technical assistance for the reconstruction. It will also support the objective of improved livelihoods generation in the construction sector and allied subsectors. 15. Component 4: Project Management, Technical Assistance, and Institutional Strengthening. This component will support: (i) project management for the FPMU and the provincial PIUs; (ii) technical assistance for M&E, Project Supervision and Implementation Assistance (PSIA), preparation of SoP2, and preparation of community flood resilience plans; and (iii) institutional strengthening through capacity building and drafting a Water Act. 16. Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response. This component facilitates the provision of immediate response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as needed. Following an adverse natural event that causes a major disaster or emergency, the GoP may request the Bank to reallocate project funds to support response and reconstruction. Resources will be allocated to this component as needed during implementation. 17. Results Framework. There are no changes to the PDO. The RF has been updated in line with the revised project design. The indicator 'people with enhanced protection to flood risk' is revised to align with the corporate scorecard indicator 'people with enhanced resilience to climate risks', including its sub-indicators reporting on youth and women. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Minister informs NA: Reko Diq project to generate over $75bn in free cash flows
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik said that Reko Diq Project will be the largest Western investment in Pakistan and is forecasted to generate more than $75 billion in free cash flows over the current life of mine plan which is nearly 37 years. In written reply to a question to the National Assembly on Thursday, the minister said that total volume and estimated value of Reko Diq (RD) is; Phase-I production starting 2028: Targeting 300,000 oz/annum of gold and 200,000 tons/annum of copper. He said that Phase-2 production is starting 2034: 500,000 oz/annum of gold and 400,000 tons/annum of copper. He said that these numbers are based on real cash flows, which are conservative. He said the nominal free-cash flows assuming a standard commodity price escalation may yield to more than $100 billion of cash flows. Barrick's Reko Diq project in Pakistan aims new financing The minister said that project structure with 25 per cent share of Balochistan besides taxes and royalty provisions, ensures that a significant share of the economic benefits of the project will flow to Pakistan, with the majority of those amounts paid to the Government of Balochistan. He said the key fiscal terms for the project include (among others) are: - five per cent royalty payable to the Government of Balochistan, one per cent net smelter return payable to the Government of Pakistan. He said that 0.5 per cent export processing zone surcharge. To ensure that Balochistan is receiving benefits during the development and construction phases, the minister said that advance royalty payments to the Government of Balochistan were made by the Project Company in year 1 ($5 million) and year 2 ($7.5 million) and will be made in year 3 and thereafter until commercial production ($10 million per year), for a maximum total amount of advance payments of $50 million. The minister said that according to the bankable Feasibility Report, the key development phases are: Phase-1 construction: 2025 – 2028, Phase-1 Production: 2028, Phase-2 construction: 2028 – 2033, Phase-2 production: 2034 He said that adequate measures and steps have been ensured and taken for environmental safeguards, community development and employment opportunities besides local business opportunities. He said that $5.3 million has been spent in education, health, skills training, and clean water access since 2022. He said that construction phase: one per cent of all construction capital (estimated at approximately $57 million for Phase 1 and $33 million for Phase 2 based on the updated feasibility study); $10 million has already been paid toward this commitment in advance to Government of Balochistan. About the operating phase of the project, the minister said that 0.4 per cent of annual revenue during every fiscal year commercial production estimated at approximately $25 million per year. He said that major local employment: 7,500 jobs during peak construction; 4,000 jobs in the long term. Currently, 77 per cent of RDMC employees are from Balochistan. He said that various steps taken to ensure maximum possible benefit to the people of Balochistan include royalty at five per cent of revenue (net smelter revenue) goes to the Government of Balochistan. He said that an advance royalty arrangement has been made, providing total of $50 million until production commences in 2028, after which regular royalty payments will begin. The minister said that 75 per cent of employees in the project are from Balochistan. 4,000+ long term jobs and 7,500+ people during peak construction will be employed. He said Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) is governed by a board chaired by the chief secretary of Balochistan, with the secretary Mines and Minerals as a member, alongside representatives from federal state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and Barrick. The board meets quarterly to oversee project progress and ensure transparency, he said.
