MULTAN: Popular social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been killed in Multan, becoming the latest victim of "honor killings" that plague the country.
According to Waqt News the initial post mortem report shows Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death, it is suspected she was given some intoxicant before being killed as there were no signs of a struggle. Reportedly a hand was placed on her mouth during strangulation. Her viscera have been are collected and will been sent to Lahore Forensic laboratory. Qandeel Baloch’s brother has not been arrested yet, while FIR has been lodged in Muzaffargarh Thana by her father, nominating her brother as the murderer.
Qandeel, who is popular for posting bold videos and statements on Facebook, was killed by her brother. The deceased father has nominated his two sons as main suspects in murder case of his daughter. As per report Aslam allegedly provoked Waseem to kill Qandeel on honor.
Shortly, Qandeel Baloch had been spending days with her parents after she returned home for Eid, was asleep at her parent’s home in Green Town in Multan, when her brother, identified as Waseem entered the house and smothered her to death before fleeing, police said. Qandeel's brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, said the police.
The deceased father in his initial statement informed the police that he was sleeping on roof along with his wife and son Wasim while Qandeel was sleeping in her room. At 3:00 am Wasim came down from roof and assassinated Qandeel and manage to escape from the crime scene, the deceased father added.
He however included the name Aslam Shaheen as co-accused. Her father told the police that video clips may have enraged his son and he killed her. He said that she was tearing their honor into pieces in TV programs.
Police on Saturday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two Wasim and Aslam Shaheen, real brother of deceased Qandeel on the complaint of deceased father Muhammad Azeem. Police registered the case under Sections 302 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code which deal with "punishment for willful murder".
The police have started to conduct the raids to arrest the accused.
Senior police officer Sultan Azam said that the suspect had fled the city after committing the crime.
The brother fled after killing Qandeel, whose real name is Fauzia Azeem. Police added that Qandeel was in Multan for one week, and that forensic experts are examining the corpse to prepare a medical report.
Earlier, TV channels reported that Qandeel was shot by her brother. Police are now stating that she was "strangled to death" at her Multan residence.
Baloch, who became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive "selfies" posted on social media, had amassed tens of thousands of followers. "Nothing is good in this society. This patriarchal society is bad," Qandeel had said in a recent interview with Images.
Three weeks ago, Qandeel had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her. She had also requested action against those who made her identification documents public via social media.
She had said her life is in danger and that she is being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home. She wrote: “I need security from you”.
Baloch is derided and feted in equal measure in Pakistan, but the popularity of her videos evidence frustrations of many young people tired of being told how to behave — her videos have been viewed thousands of times. She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014.
Earlier this month, Qandeel released a music video which she starred in alongside young singer Aryan Khan. Titled 'Ban,' the music video touched on Qandeel's status as a controversial social media icon, and was provocative given Pakistan's conservative standards for entertainment.
Days later a man claiming to be Qandeel's ex-husband made an appearance on TV, saying that Qandeel had a son with him during their brief marriage.
Qandeel confirmed his claims, saying she was forced into the marriage.
Meanwhile, Mufti Qavi, who remained on the spotlight after his pictures with Qandeel Baloch appeared on social media which also cost him his position as Ruet-e-Hilal committee member, strongly condemned the murder of Qandeel Baloch. He said that he had already pardoned the late Qandeel after she attempted to defame him by leaking doctored pictures.
Response of famous personalities:
Oscar-winning Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy have taken to twitter to condemn the fatal attack on Qandeel Baloch for so-called honor today, "How many women have to die before we pass the Anti Honor Killing Bill?"
#QandeelBaloch killed in an #honorkilling- how many women have to die before we pass the Anti Honor Killing Bill?
— Sharmeen Obaid (@sharmeenochinoy) July 16, 2016
Bakhtawar Bhutto and Asifa Bhutto, daughters of the former president Zardari and slain Benazir Bhutto stated: “No justification no honor no defence. An extreme e.g should be set against this heinous act beginning with her brothers arrest.”
No justification no honour no defence.An extreme e.g should be set against this heinous act beginning wit her brothers arrest #QandeelBaloch
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 16, 2016
Former PPP Information Minister and Ambasador to the US Sherry Rehman wrote "None at all! Qandeel Baloch was no role model but she deserved a better, life and death. Strongly condemn it."
None at all! #QandeelBaloch was no role model but she deserved a better, life and death. Strongly condemn! https://t.co/Tj5J8Kev9Y
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) July 16, 2016
Wife of former Punjab governor’s son, Maheen Taseer condemned the killing saying, "Whatever personal opinions people had about Qandeel Baloch, there is no justification for murder. Her brother should be hung!"
Whatever personal opinions people had on #QandeelBaloch - there is no justification for murder. Her brother should be hung!
— Maheen Taseer (@MaheenTaseer) July 16, 2016
