In a tragic development, a father in Quetta, Pakistan, has confessed to killing his teenage daughter over TikTok content. Initially, Anwar ul-Haq claimed that unidentified gunmen shot his 15-year-old American-born daughter. However, after further questioning, he admitted to committing the crime himself.
The shooting took place on a street in the southwestern city on Tuesday. According to police investigator Babar Baloch, the father disapproved of his daughter’s lifestyle and social media activities.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered that the family objected to her dressing style, social gatherings, and TikTok videos. “We have her phone, but it is locked. We are exploring all aspects, including the possibility of an honor killing,” police official Zohaib Mohsin revealed.
Furthermore, the family had recently moved back to Balochistan after living in the United States for nearly 25 years. The suspect, who holds U.S. citizenship, told police that his daughter began creating “objectionable” TikTok content while living in the United States. Despite returning to Pakistan, she continued sharing videos on the platform.
As the investigation progressed, authorities confirmed that Haq had been charged with murder. Additionally, his brother-in-law was arrested in connection with the case. However, the police provided no evidence of Haq’s U.S. citizenship besides his own statement. It remains unclear whether the U.S. embassy has been informed. The family, when contacted, declined to comment.
TikTok, popular in Pakistan
Meanwhile, TikTok remains a popular platform in Pakistan, with over 54 million users. The government has repeatedly imposed bans, citing concerns over “obscene content.” Despite these restrictions, the platform has increasingly complied with content removal requests.
Honor-related violence continues to be a major concern in Pakistan. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, over 1,000 women are killed annually by family or community members. Such killings often occur due to perceived violations of conservative values, including social media activities, eloping, or socializing with men.
This case highlights ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights and digital expression in conservative societies. Authorities are continuing their investigation to ensure justice is served.
