A Pakistan court on Friday convicted the brother of social media star Qandeel Baloch of her murder, a 2016 killing that sparked a change in laws and ignited fierce debate over the prevalence of honour killings of women.
A court in the eastern city of Multan found Muhammad Waseem guilty of the murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, his lawyer told Reuters. “Waseem has been given life in prison,” the lawyer, Sardar Mehboob, told Reuters by phone after the verdict was delivered.
“It is for sure that we will appeal in the High Court.”
Six others accused of involvement have been acquitted, the lawyer said. They included two of Baloch’s other brothers, her cousin, a neighbour, a driver, and a Muslim cleric.
Waseem admitted in a 2016 media conference organised by the police that he strangled his 26-year-old sister because of her social media activities.
Baloch had posted risque Facebook posts in which she spoke of trying to change “the typical orthodox mindset” of people in Pakistan. She faced frequent misogynist abuse and death threats but continued to post provocative pictures and videos.
Baloch, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, was described as Pakistan's Kim Kardashian and had built a modelling career on the back of her social media fame, but drew ire from many in the conservative South Asian nation.
Her killing sent shock waves across Pakistan and triggered an outpouring of grief on social media, and prompted the government to tighten laws to ensure that killers would not walk free if family members forgave them.