In a tragic incident in Quetta, Pakistan, a 15-year-old girl named Hira was shot dead by her father and maternal uncle over her TikTok videos in what is being reported as an honour killing. The girl’s father, Anwarul-Haq, allegedly grew enraged over his daughter’s social media presence and ordered her to stop posting videos. When Hira refused to comply, he reportedly conspired with her maternal uncle, Tayyab Ali, to kill her.
Details of the Incident
- Anwarul-Haq had moved to America with his wife and children several years ago. He returned to Pakistan with Hira on January 15, leaving his wife and two other daughters behind in the U.S.
- Authorities confirmed that the murder was premeditated, with Anwarul-Haq and Tayyab Ali plotting the killing in advance.
- Police investigations led to the arrest of both suspects, and they have confessed to the crime. The case has been transferred to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing for further action.
Impact of the Incident
This heinous act has brought to light the ongoing issue of honour killings linked to social media presence, particularly in conservative societies where social media platforms like TikTok are often seen as controversial. In this case, a simple act of creating videos led to a devastating outcome for a young girl.
TikTok Controversy and US Policy Debate
Meanwhile, the TikTok controversy is also unfolding in the U.S., where the app has been removed from the Apple and Google app stores following the Trump administration’s concerns over data privacy and its potential ties to the Chinese government.
- President Donald Trump had earlier stated that he would approve TikTok’s continued operation in the U.S. only under the condition that 50% of the app’s ownership be transferred to the U.S.
- Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has spoken out against the TikTok ban in the U.S., citing concerns about freedom of speech. While Musk supports TikTok’s continued presence in the U.S., he flagged the imbalance between TikTok’s availability in America and the ban of X (formerly Twitter) in China, suggesting that something needs to change in terms of fairness in social media access.
These developments highlight the growing intersection of social media, politics, and international relations, with countries grappling with data security concerns, freedom of speech, and the impact of technology on society.