Honour killing claims couple's life in Pakistan

KARACHI: In a case of honour killing, a married woman and her lover were shot dead by her husband's three brothers in Pakistan's Jacobabad district.

23-year-old Ranji and her 27-year-old lover Hadi Buksh were killed by Raji's three brother-in-laws, who are missing since the incident took place on Sunday evening, Jacobabad District Superintendent of Police Majeed Abroo said.

"It's a clear case of karo-kari because we recovered clothless bodies of the two deceased from the rice field. We have evidence that the crime was committed by Ranji's brother-in-laws against whom an FIR has been lodged," Abroo said.

Abroo said Ranji's husband Dost Ali Gorkhani was not in the town when the incident happened.

"He had gone to a nearby town to attend a family gathering. We have interrogated Gorkhani who has expressed ignorance that his wife was having an affair. According to Gorkhani, he was happily married for two years."

Karo-kari is an ancient custom whereby a man can kill a woman, claiming that she brought dishonour to the family, and still expect to be pardoned by her relatives.

Government and independent researchers estimate that over 5,500 women have fallen victim to this practice in Pakistan over the last seven years.