A man who recently moved his family back to Pakistan from the United States has confessed to killing his teenage daughter after disapproving of her TikTok videos, according to police.
Anwar ul-Haq, a US citizen, admits to killing his daughter, Hira, on Tuesday in the south-western city of Quetta. He first claimed that unidentified men were responsible for the shooting.
Haq, who reportedly considered his daughter’s social media posts “objectionable,” has been charged with murder.
Police are considering all possible motives, including the possibility of an honour killing, which remains a significant issue in Pakistan.
Each year, hundreds of women fall victim to such killings, which are often carried out by family members claiming to protect their family’s honour.
Hira, who was between 13 and 14 years old, had been living in the US for 25 years before the family relocated to Pakistan.
She had been posting TikTok content before they moved. Police are in possession of her locked phone, which may provide further evidence about the content that led to the tragic incident.
According to a police spokesman, the family had objections to Hira’s dressing, lifestyle, and social interactions, which may have contributed to the father’s decision to act.
Haq’s brother-in-law has also been arrested in connection with the killing.
If the case is confirmed to be an honour killing, the men involved could face a mandatory life sentence under a law passed by the Pakistani government in 2016.
