Qandeel Baloch, a social media star whose exploits divided opinion in conservative Pakistan, was allegedly strangled by her brother in what appears to be an “honour killing”, police and her family say. Her brothers and two married sisters were present to perform her last rites.
Advertisement
Baloch, real name Fauzia Azeem, has been a polarizing figure in the largely conservative country of Pakistan, posting sexy photos of herself to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, with occasional video posts that had become more political in recent weeks.
Wasim Baloch confessed to murdering his sister and described it as an “honour killing”. He said he drugged her and then strangled her, adding he did not regret his action. Relatives and a large number of local residents attended her funeral prayers in Shah Sadar Din village, around 130 kilometres from Multan.
Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch died with her blood on her brother’s hands.
Over the weekend, Pakistani activists held protests in anger over Baloch’s death and the continued practice of honor killings. Qandeel Baloch feared for her security as she said, “I know I will not be provided security and I am not feeling secured here so have made a decision to move overseas with my parents after Eid-al-Fitr”.
In Facebook posts, she spoke of trying to change “the typical orthodox mindset” of people in Pakistan.
Some said it was good news and praised her brother for killing her while others said it was wrong to kill her despite her lifestyle and controversial online posts.
Qandeel, who was also a small time model and an actress, was strangled to death in her house in Multan’s Karimabad area in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Advertisement
According to city police chief Azhar Akram, Waseem had killed her by covering her mouth and nose.
