Pakistan: Journalist Shaheena Shaheen Baluch in Balochistan allegedly shot in honor killing, police on the hunt for husband

Shaheena Shaheen Baluch
born: 1995
Shot dead: 5 September 2020
Residence: Turbat area in Balochistan
Origin: Pakistan
Children: none
Perpetrator: her husband Mehrab Ghichki

A prominent journalist, women's rights activist and artist was shot dead Saturday night in the Turbat area of the Pakistani province of Balochistan.

The Pakistani police have reported in the media that Mehrab Ghichki shot his wife with two bullets through the head in his uncle's house in the PTCL Colony (District in Peshawar).

Mehrab drove to the hospital and dumped Shaheena's body there. He left the car behind and fled. The police ordered all checkpoints near Turbat to arrest this killer.

The Coalition for Women in Journalism is furious because of this murder. In the last 10 months, this is the second murder they have documented in the country. They demand that the Pakistani authorities investigate the case quickly and punish Shaheena's killer.

We are looking forward to receiving clues.

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.