The barbaric practice of honour killing based upon obsolete values and traditions claimed another life, as a man was brutally killed and his wife kidnapped in Ghotki only because they had married according to their own choice, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

The barbaric act was committed in the Murid Shakh area of Ghotki, as Ashiq Khokar and Haseena were going to Sukkur from Sadiqabad on a rickshaw because of the fear of being murdered. They had tied knot against the will of Haseena’s family two months ago.

But the armed men riding in a van intercepted them. The attackers first brutally injured Murid with axe and then shot him dead on the spot. Later, they fled the scene after kidnapping the girl who was also tortured during the incident.

According to Murid’s family, they had informed the Khombara Police Station as well as the police control room soon after the incident but timely action wasn’t taken. The life of Haseena is in a serious threat and she must be recovered at the earliest, they added.

On the other hand, the officials from the Khombara Police Station say they have cordoned off the area and shifted the body to a hospital in Ubauro.

Ghotki located in upper Sindh is part of the region which is notorious for karo-kari – the term used in Sindh for honour killings.

24NewsHD had reported on May 20 that 25 women were killed in Ghotki district in the name of family honour during the last one year.