GILGIT: Four members of a family, including two young children, were killed by unidentified attackers near Madina Colony in Skardu, with police suspecting that the murders may have been motivated by so-called honour.

The Gilgit-Baltistan police spokesperson identified the victims as Aslam, 35, a resident of Talobarq in Skardu district’s Roundu Valley; his wife Hania, 30, originally from Parachinar; their four-year-old son, Mehdi; and two-year-old daughter, Dua Zehra.

According to the initial investigation, the family was murdered inside their house on Thursday night. The couple had married in Karachi some years ago and had been living in Skardu town.

Police suspect ‘honour’ may be the motive behind killing of couple and their two young children

Police said the family had no known enmity with anyone. However, they suspected that the woman’s family might be involved in the killings. Checkpoints have been set up at Skardu’s entry and exit points to apprehend the suspects.

DIG Baltistan Arif Mohmand told the media that the four family members had been killed with a sharp-edged weapon, which was found on Friday morning. He said police were investigating the case from different angles.

The GB inspector general of police (IGP) has directed the Baltistan regional police officer to conduct a thorough investigation, establish the motive behind the killings, identify the perpetrators and ensure their arrest.

In a statement, the GB chief minister described the killing of four members of the same family as an extremely tragic and unbearable incident. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and assured them that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure justice.

He sought a detailed report from the IGP and directed the police to use all available resources to arrest those responsible.

Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased staged a sit-in, blocking a road in Skardu’s Gamaba area to demand the arrest of the perpetrators.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2026