The parents of social media star Qandeel Baloch — who was murdered allegedly by her brothers — on Wednesday submitted an affidavit in a Multan's Model court, saying they have forgiven the killers and the case against their sons should be thrown out.
Imran Shafi, a judge of Model Court Multan told that no new affidavit was submitted before the court. It was an old affidavit in which parents submitted that it was not a case of "Ghairat" (Honopur) and this section was inserted later by the police. Baloch's brother Waseem had strangled her to death for "honour" at their house in 2016. He later confessed to have killed her because she allegedly “brought dishonour to the Baloch name” with her risque videos and statements posted on social media. Her brother Aslam Shaheen was also nominated in the case.The statement said the case was registered on 16th July 2016 by Muzaffarabad Police station while the change in the related law was introduced on 22nd October. So the amendment has no effect on the case, it further added.
The court has issued notices to the concerned for argument on the case.
In the fresh petition, submitted in a model court in Multan, Baloch's parents stated that they have forgiven her alleged murderers and asked the court to acquit them. After that the court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.
The affidavit said that the Anti-Honour Killing Laws (Criminal Amendment Bill) 2015 — which prevents killers from walking free after being pardoned by the victim's family — was passed months after Baloch was murdered and, therefore, cannot be applied to the case.
The legislation mandates life imprisonment for honour killings, but whether a murder can be defined as a crime of honour is left to the judge's discretion.
The affidavit also said that the allegations that Baloch was killed for "honour" were "contrary to facts".
The victim's parents had once before also requested the court to wrap up the murder case, saying they had forgiven both their sons, but their appeal was dismissed by the judge citing the anti-honour killing law.
After the law was passed in October 2016, Baloch's parents had initially vowed not to forgive the alleged murderers.
“There is no pardon from our side,” Baloch’s father Mohammad Azeem had told AFP and called for his son and the three co-accused to be punished “at the earliest”.
“They should get life imprisonment or death — I will feel happy,” he said at the time.
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Murder