A man who recently returned to Pakistan from the United States has confessed to killing his teenage daughter, Hira, because he disapproved of her TikTok videos, according to police reports. Anwar ul-Haq, a US citizen, was charged with murder after admitting that he shot his daughter in the southwestern city of Quetta on Tuesday. Initially, he had claimed that unknown assailants were responsible for the shooting, but later confessed to the crime, citing his objections to his daughter’s social media activity.
Police are investigating all possible angles, including the possibility of an honour killing—a tragic and recurring issue in Pakistan, where hundreds of women are killed annually by family members claiming to defend the family’s honour. In the case of Hira, who was between 13 and 14 years old, authorities revealed that her family disapproved of her clothing, lifestyle, and social activities.
The family had lived in the US for 25 years, and Hira had been posting content on TikTok before they moved back to Pakistan. Investigators have seized her phone, which is currently locked, as part of their probe. Additionally, the father’s brother-in-law has also been arrested in connection with the murder.
If the crime is confirmed to be an honour killing, the perpetrators could face a mandatory life sentence under Pakistan’s revised law from 2016. This reform came after previous loopholes allowed murderers to escape punishment if the victim’s family pardoned them.
Honour killings remain a significant issue in Pakistan. For example, in 2023, an Italian court sentenced a Pakistani couple to life in prison for killing their 18-year-old daughter, who rejected an arranged marriage. Additionally, the infamous 2016 case of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered by her brother over family shame, ended with an appeal that saw him acquitted, despite his earlier confession.
The tragic death of Hira ul-Haq underscores the continued prevalence of violence justified by the so-called defence of family honour and highlights the ongoing need for societal change and stronger protections for women and girls in Pakistan.
