Qandeel’s family barred from ‘forgiving’ killer

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities barred murdered social media star Qandeel Baloch’s family from “forgiving” her brother for strangling her under an Islamic law,

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities barred murdered social media star Qandeel Baloch’s family from “forgiving” her brother for strangling her under an Islamic law, taking a rare stand against “honour killings”.

HT Image

Police in Qandeel’s hometown of Multan confirmed that Section 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code had been added to her murder case, barring her family from pardoning the alleged killer under the “Qisas and Diyat” law.

City police chief Azhar Akram said the Islamic law, whereby the family or heirs of the victim can pardon the murderer, could not be applied in Qandeel’s case after police added Section 311, through which the state becomes the plaintiff.

Qandeel’s brother Muhammad Waseem drugged and strangled her on Friday in a murder that shocked the conservative Muslim nation, where the 26-year-old had titillated and outraged people with her racy social media photos and videos.

Waseem, after being arrested on Monday, said he had no regrets because his sister had dishonoured the family by making a controversial video with Mufti Abdul Qavi.

Qandeel’s father would not be able to forgive Waseem and other suspects if he decided to do so at any point, Akram explained.

Under Section 311, the discretion of accepting a pardon from the victim’s family is left to the judge handling the case.