The Model court in Multan found Muhammad Waseem guilty of the murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. In the 38-page verdict, Judge Imran Shafi acquitted five other people, including another of Qandeel’s other brothers, Aslam Shaheen, and Mufti Abdul Qavi, a cleric who remained a central figure in the murder investigation.
The other acquitted accused are Haq Nawaz, Abdul Basit and Muhammad Zafar Hussain. The court has now declared one more accused, Qandeel’s third brother Arif, a proclaimed offender.
“Waseem has been given life in prison,” the lawyer, Sardar Mehboob, told by phone, shortly after the verdict was delivered.
He added he would file an appeal against the verdict, which was delivered after hearings spanning a month less than four years.
Qandeel – born Fouzia Azeem – was found strangled to death in her house in Multan’s Karimabad area on July 15, 2016. Her father had accused Waseem of the murder, who admitted in a 2016 media conference that he strangled his 26-year-old sister due to her social media activities.
In August this year, Baloch’s parents, in their affidavit, maintained that they have pardoned their sons – Waseem and Aslam Shaheen – seeking their acquittal ‘for the mercy and approval of the Almighty’.
The prosecution, on the other hand, responded with a written statement, maintaining that pardoning the accused was not legally permissible in the honour killing cases.
Qandeel had posted risque Facebook posts in which she spoke of trying to change “the typical orthodox mindset” of people in Pakistan, where about 500 women are killed each year at the hands of family members over perceived damage to “honour”.
She overcame frequent misogynist abuse and death threats to build a modelling career on the back of her social media fame.
Her selfies with Mufti Qavi went viral on social media, after which the cleric’s membership of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and the National Ulema Mushaikh Council was suspended.
Her killing sent shockwaves across Pakistan and triggered an outpouring of grief on social media, and prompted the government to tighten laws to ensure that killers could not walk free if family members forgave them.
The verdict against Qandeel Baloch's brother and murderer Muhammad Wasim is out.
Three years after the toxic obsession with so-called honour took the social media sensation's life, a model court in Multan on Friday handed Wasim life imprisonment, while the other six suspects who were nominated in the case, including cleric Abdul Qavi, were acquitted by the court.
In a country where 'honour' killing is common, people rejoiced at justice finally being served.
Justice for Qandeel at last.
Well done to all involved.
May her brave, furiously bright soul finally rest in peace.
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I have tears in my eyes. I hope justice prevails for every single woman wronged. I hope eventually we never have to get to that. Rest in power, Qandeel. twitter.com/nighatdad/stat…
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's other Tweets
's other TweetsQandeel Baloch, a social media star whose posts both titillated and appalled #Pakistan, was killed by her brother in 2016. Today, a court gives Waseem 25 years in prison. The verdict brings little relief or closure in a country where 500+ women die each year in 'honour' killings.
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However, many pointed out it was a bittersweet moment.
Qandeel Baloch murder case, her brother Waseem would face 25 years imprisonment and all others including Mufti Qavi are absolved of all charges. This is exactly what we predicted earlier. Idk what to say.
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's other Tweets
's other TweetsThousands are complicit in the murder of Qandeel Baloch. Although her brother, Waseem, got life, the others were acquitted.
As a society, we need to stop honour killings for once and for all, and build kinder online spaces.
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And, Molvi Naqvi? Again, he is being protected.
As Half truth is more dangerous than lie - simultaneously - Half justice is more dangerous than injustice.#JusticeForQandeelBaloch twitter.com/xadeejournalis…
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They wondered whether there was any justice in this at all.
What a strange, bittersweet feeling. The verdict isn’t the end, and it doesn’t bring a measure of relief or closure for me at least. When I saw the photos of Mufti Qavi being showered with rose petals outside court, I realised why. 1/ #QandeelBaloch
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For many of us following the dramatic ups and downs of Qandeel Baloch’s life and death, this verdict offers an empty, dissatisfying closure . The lesson is that the powerful and influential - in this case Mufti Qavi - are never held responsible. twitter.com/dawn_com/statu…
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#MuftiAbdulQavi is acquitted given benefit of doubt, means that a defendant is considered innocent and acquitted by the jury if his/her guilt has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt, that's where we lack that's what saved him and I'm not convinced#JusticeForQandeelBaloch
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In the end, we just hope everyone learned a valuable lesson.
Qandeel Baloch's "baa-ghairat" brother has been given 25 years in jail. Possibly the same amount she spent trying to make something of her life, to rise above the cards fate dealt her. #JusticeForQandeelBaloch #QandeelBaloch
I hope the victory in this that the next girl who tries to chase her dreams is saved from a similar end & is respected while she's still alive. Paying compliments to corpses or cashing on their tragedies doesn't do them any good. #JusticeForQandeelBaloch #QandeelBaloch
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Murder