MULTAN – The parents of late social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch have stated before a Multan court that they have forgiven the murderers and the case against their sons should be wrapped up.
Baloch’s parents submitted an affidavit in the model court, seeking to help acquit the brothers of the social media star.
In the affidavit, it is stated that the Anti-Honour Killing Laws (Criminal Amendment Bill) 2015 – which bars acquittal of killers after being pardoned by the victim’s family – was passed months after Baloch was murdered and, therefore, cannot be applied to this case.
The legislation confirmed life imprisonment for honour killings, but whether a murder can be defined as a crime of honour is to be decided by the judge.
The affidavit also said that the allegations that Baloch was killed for ‘honour’ were ‘contrary to facts’, seeking the acquittal of alleged murderers under Section 345 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
In response, the court summoned the lawyers representing the prosecution in the murder case as well as the counsel for Baloch’s parents.
This is the second time Baloch’s parents are seeking acquittal of their sons. In a previous attempt, the request was turned down as the judge cited the anti-honour killing law.
After the legislation in October 2016, Baloch’s parents had vowed not to forgive the alleged murderers; Baloch’s father Mohammad Azeem had said that he would be happy if the murderers ‘get life imprisonment or death’.
Baloch’s brother Waseem had strangled her to death in the name of honour in 2016. He later confessed to have killed her because she allegedly ‘brought dishonour to the Baloch name’ with her videos and statements posted on social media.
Her brother Aslam Shaheen was also nominated in the case. The death had triggered calls for tough legislation regarding honour killing following which the loopholes in the law were removed.
