Girl Killed And Burned For Helping Friend Elope

Thirteen members of a tribal council in Pakistan have been arrested over the killing of a 17-year-old girl who helped her friend elope.

The charred remains of Ambreen Riasat were discovered in a burnt-out Suzuki van in the tourist resort of Donga Gali on 29 April.

Police chief Khurram Rasheed said the girl was drugged, strangled and put in the same van her friend used to elope. The van was then torched.

The girl's mother, who supported the decision of the tribal council, or jirga, was also arrested.

The group has been remanded into police custody for two weeks on murder and terrorism charges.

In Pakistan, women who defy their family in the name of love are considered a source of shame.

Hundreds of women are murdered in Pakistan every year by their relatives in so-called "honour killings".

Activist Samar Minallah said tribal councils often kill women in order to teach a lesson to others in the community.

"Until and unless you take strong action against these jirga members and their supporters in the community, no law can help to stop the brutal killing of women for honour," she said.