TikTok Murder in Pakistan: A Father’s Disapproval Leads to a Teenage Girl’s Death

A Horrific Incident in Quetta

A man who had recently brought his family back to Pakistan from the US has confessed to shooting dead his teenage daughter, motivated by his disapproval of her TikTok content, Pakistani police said. The shooting happened on a street in the southwestern city of Quetta yesterday.

The Suspect’s Confession

The suspect, Anwar ul-Haq, initially said that unidentified gunmen shot and killed his American-born, 15-year-old daughter before he confessed to the crime, police official Babar Baloch said. However, further investigation revealed that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering.

Family’s Objections

“Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering,” another police investigator, Zohaib Mohsin, said. “We have her phone. It is locked,” he told Reuters. “We are probing all aspects, including honour killing.”

The Family’s Background

The family had recently returned to Balochistan province in predominantly Muslim Pakistan, a nation with conservative social norms, having lived in the US for about 25 years, Baloch said. The suspect has US citizenship, the officer said.

TikTok Content

He said Haq had told him his daughter began creating “objectionable” content on the social media platform TikTok when she lived in the US. He told police that she continued to share videos on the platform after returning to Pakistan.

Arrests and Charges

Baloch said the main suspect’s brother-in-law had also been arrested in connection with the killing. Police said they had charged Haq with the murder. They did not offer proof of Haq’s US citizenship except for the suspect’s own testimony and declined to say whether the US embassy had been informed of the incident.

Government’s Response

More than 54 million people use TikTok in Pakistan, a nation of 241 million. The government has blocked the video-sharing app several times in recent years over content moderation. Islamabad often takes issue with what it terms “obscene content” with the social media platform, which has lately started complying with requests from Pakistan to remove certain content.

Honour Killings in Pakistan

Over 1,000 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of community or family members over perceived damage to “honour”, according to independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. That could involve eloping, posting social media content, fraternising with men, or any other infraction against conservative values relating to women.

Conclusion

The incident highlights the ongoing issue of honour killings in Pakistan, where women are often victims of brutal crimes committed by their own family members. The case also raises questions about the role of social media platforms like TikTok in perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes and norms.

FAQs

Q: What is the motive behind the murder?
A: The motive is the father’s disapproval of his daughter’s TikTok content, which he deemed “objectionable”.

Q: How many people use TikTok in Pakistan?
A: More than 54 million people use TikTok in Pakistan.

Q: What is the punishment for honour killings in Pakistan?
A: Honour killings are a serious crime in Pakistan, and those found guilty can face imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Q: Has the US government been informed of the incident?
A: The police did not confirm whether the US embassy had been informed of the incident.