A Pakistani man has been arrested in connection with a harrowing "honor" killing incident that has sparked outrage across the nation. The victim, Maria Bibi, aged 22, was allegedly killed by her brother, Muhammad Faisal, in collaboration with their father, Abdul Sattar, near Toba Tek Singh town in Punjab. The chilling event was captured on video by Maria's other brother, Shehbaz, and has since gone viral.

In the disturbing footage, Faisal is seen strangling Maria on a bed in their family home, while their father sits nearby. Shehbaz pleads with his father to intervene, but his appeals are ignored as Faisal continues to strangle Maria's motionless body for more than two minutes. After the act, Faisal is even offered water by their father.

The police discovered that Maria did not die of natural causes and subsequently registered a case. Both Sattar and Faisal were immediately arrested, while Shehbaz was also taken into custody to determine the extent of his involvement. The murder bears all the hallmarks of an "honor" killing, a tragic phenomenon that persists in Pakistani society.

Maria's murder highlights the grim reality faced by many women in Pakistan, where a strict code of "honor" often dictates their lives. Women are beholden to male relatives regarding choices related to education, employment, and marriage. Hundreds of women fall victim to such killings each year, with 384 reported "honor killings" in 2022 alone. Unfortunately, many cases go unreported as families often protect the perpetrators, who are often male relatives.

The motive behind Maria Bibi's murder remains unclear. However, it is alleged that Faisal caught his sister talking to an unknown man on video calls multiple times. Despite efforts to address this issue, the legal system still allows men to murder women with impunity in certain cases, perpetuating this tragic cycle of violence.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/honor-killing-man-arrested-filming-brother-strangling-sister-maria-bibi-pakistan/