Quetta, Pakistan – A man in Pakistan has been arrested for allegedly killing his teenage daughter after she refused to stop uploading what he deemed inappropriate videos on the social media platform TikTok, police confirmed on Thursday.
The suspect, reportedly in his 50s, had recently moved his family back to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, after living in the United States, according to local police chief Babar Baloch.
Authorities say the father confessed to shooting his daughter earlier this week following disputes over her social media presence and choice of clothing. He had demanded that she dress more modestly and refrain from posting what the family considered “indecent” content online.
Suspected ‘Honor Killing’
Police are investigating the case as a suspected honor killing, a deeply rooted practice in parts of Pakistan where women are murdered by family members over perceived violations of cultural norms.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), nearly 1,000 women are killed every year in Pakistan by relatives—fathers, brothers, and sons—on the pretext of defending family honor.
Rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have long criticized Pakistan’s legal system for enabling perpetrators to escape punishment. A controversial clause in Islamic law allows the victim’s relatives to forgive the killer, often leading to no legal consequences in cases where family members are both the victims and the perpetrators.
Legal Loopholes and Reforms
Pakistan amended its laws in 2016 to limit the use of these religious exemptions in honor killing cases, requiring mandatory life imprisonment for perpetrators in cases deemed as intentional murder. However, human rights groups argue that legal loopholes remain, and enforcement is still weak.
Despite global condemnation and local legal reforms, honor killings continue to be a persistent problem in Pakistan, particularly in conservative regions where women’s autonomy is strictly controlled by family members.
Growing Digital Divide and Gender Tensions
This latest case also underscores the growing cultural divide over social media in traditional societies. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have given young people, particularly women, a voice and visibility that can challenge conservative social norms.
However, as more young women embrace digital platforms, tensions between generations and gender expectations have escalated, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Police say the suspect remains in custody as authorities prepare formal charges, while human rights advocates continue to call for stronger protections for women in Pakistan.