Islamabad: A court in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Thursday rejected a request by the parents of slain social media star and model Qandeel Baloch to pardon their sons for her murder.
Baloch’s brother Waseem had strangled her to death in the name of “honour” at their house in 2016. He later confessed to having killed her because she allegedly “brought dishonour to the Baloch name” with her risque videos and statements posted on social media.
Her another brother Aslam Shaheen was also named in the case.
Baloch’s parents — Muhammad Azeem and Anwar Bibi — had on Wednesday submitted an affidavit in the local trial court in Multan, saying they had forgiven the killers and the case against their sons should be thrown out, Geo News reported.
The affidavit stated that Baloch’s murder case was registered on July 16, 2016, while the change to the Anti-Honour Killing Laws, which prevents killers from walking free after a pardon, was made three months later. Thus, it was not applicable in the case.
They also denied the allegation that Baloch was killed for the sake of honour.
The new legislation makes it mandatory for those convicted to serve at least 12 years in prison and makes the state a plaintiff in cases.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till August 24.