Model and actress Qandeel Baloch, entered the entertainment industry dreaming of fame and success, murdered on this day nine years ago, in an alleged honour killing by her brother.
Qandeel Baloch was born in Dera Ghazi Khan in a village called Shah Sadr Din on March 1, 1990. It was at the age of 14 that she got into the world of glamor and after over 10 years of hardship, her name started to get popularity in Pakistan.
Qandeel became an internet sensation with her unapologetic nature. Her appearance on the show with Mufti Abdul Qavi along with a selfie, raised further attention and controversies.
She was faithful to her family in spite of her becoming a celebrity. She even started to work to support her disabled father as well as her elderly mother besides her unemployed brother Waseem by assisting him to begin a business.
But in a tragic twist, the same brother murdered her in the name of “honour” on July 15, 2016—a crime that shocked the entire country and sparked debates around women’s rights, honour killings, and the justice system in Pakistan.
The murder case took another controversial turn when six accused, including Waseem and Mufti Abdul Qavi, released from jail following a forgiveness (diyat) granted by Qandeel’s parents—a move permitted under Pakistani law. This release, however, left deep concerns and criticism about the judicial process and the state’s failure to prosecute honour killings independently.
Even after nearly a decade, no formal justice served, and the silence surrounding Qandeel’s case remains a symbol of the systemic failures that continue to endanger women in Pakistan.
