On 15th July 2016 social media sensation, Qandeel Baloch was murdered by her brother Muhammad Waseem in Multan Saturday morning in the name of honor killing. The famed celebrity was known for uploading provocative content on her social media accounts. Reports state she received threats from her brother due to her pictures and videos on Facebook.
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Waseem was awarded life imprisonment, 6 years later, the Lahore High Court Multan Bench canceled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel Baloch’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.
Soon after this news spread like fire, celebrities took to social media and expressed their shock.
Actor Osman Khalid Butt shared his opinion on the matter in a series of tweets
Qandeel Baloch’s murderer walks free today after serving less than six years of his life sentence.
He is on record admitting to drugging and murdering his sister.
Someone please make this make sense to me.— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 14, 2022
The court order should be made public so the country knows exactly how Waseem won his life sentence appeal.
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 14, 2022
We are in the concluding stages of a high-profile and incredibly brutal murder case even now – how does this ruling inspire any confidence (except to the guilty) in our judicial system?
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 14, 2022
Six years – and an anti-honor killing Bill – later, we’re back to square one.
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 14, 2022
This is not the first time sentences for heinous crimes have been reduced or overturned.
Why do these loopholes still exist in our judicial system whereby murderers can eventually walk free?— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 14, 2022
Osman concluded with, “This is not the first time sentences for heinous crimes have been reduced or overturned. Why do these loopholes still exist in our judicial system whereby murderers can eventually walk free?”
This is not the first time sentences for heinous crimes have been reduced or overturned.
Why do these loopholes still exist in our judicial system whereby murderers can eventually walk free?— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) February 14, 2022
Singer Meesha Shafi, too, spoke about Waseem’s acquittal. “So Qandeel Baloch killed in cold blood,” the popular singer tweeted, adding, “Her father, who tried to pursue justice above and beyond his means.. passed away. Her murderer, her brother, alive and roaming free once again. We’re living in the opposite world.”
So #QandeelBaloch killed in cold blood.
Her father, who tried to pursue Justice above and beyond his means.. passed away.
Her murderer, her brother, alive and roaming free once again.We’re living in opposite world.
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) February 15, 2022
Activist and lawyer Nighat Dad shared, “This man who confessed to killing Qandeel, his sister, is a free man today in the same country where Qandeel couldn’t live her life freely and was honor killed for the choices she made as a free citizen of this country.”
This man who confessed of killing Qandeel, his own sister, is a free man today in the same country where Qandeel couldn’t live her life freely & was honor killed for the choices she made as a free citizen of this country. #qandeelbaloch #honourkilling pic.twitter.com/MJy5fjPpZq
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) February 14, 2022
Academic Nida Kirmani questioned, “How on earth was #QandeelBaloch’s brother acquitted?!”
I thought the 2016 amendment made it impossible to forgive a murderer for an honour killing. How on earth was #QandeelBaloch’s brother acquitted?!
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) February 14, 2022
Model Zara Peerzada re-shared Nighat Dad’s post that took a dig at “state machinery” for not working in favor of women.
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