Lisa Hrabluk

The Pakistan government has opened an investigation into the murder of five young women who were killed because they wanted to marry for love following protests throughout the country.

Pakistan Begins Inquiry into Deaths of Five Women

News of the killings, which occurred six weeks ago, trickled out of the remote, tribal area slowly and with sketchy details. As described in an Aug. 21 statement by a French human rights group, the victims were three young women who had planned to marry men of their choice — a blot on family honor — and two older female relatives.

All were kidnapped by several men on July 13 from their village, Baba Kot, in the department of Jafferabad, and taken to a deserted area in a vehicle bearing provincial government plates, according to the group, the International Federation for Human Rights. The young women were beaten and shot, and, still breathing, covered with earth and stones. The two older women tried to intervene and were buried alive as well. (Source: NY Times)