I will never forgive my son for killing Qandeel: father

Accuses police, NGOs of biased behaviour

SHAH SADRUDDIN: While sitting under the shade of a tree to escape the scorching heat in his small home in Shah Sadar Din, a town in Dera Ghazi Khan, Azeem Baloch, the 82-year-old father of late celebrity Qandeel Baloch, still remembers the sweet moments that he spent with his daughter. On July 15, 2016, Qandeel Baloch, whose real name was Fouzia Azeem, was allegedly murdered by her brother in the name of ‘honour’ because he felt that she had brought shame to his family and their community.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Azeem said, “I will never forgive my son for killing my beloved daughter Qandeel Baloch.

Those who think that I will forgive him are wrong.” He added, “Strict punishment should be awarded to him for killing his sister so that no brother should commit such a heinous act in future.”

After the death of the late celebrity, Azeem and his wife are living a poverty-ridden life. “Qandeel was not my daughter but she was my son. She provided us financial and emotional support,” he lamented with tears in his eyes.



He maintained, “My wife has gone to collect money from the people in our neighbourhood for Qandeel’s death anniversary and we would continue to remember her till our last breath.”

“I have no shame in calling Qandeel my daughter. After her death, we have been facing financial constraints. Sometimes we do not have enough to eat and to buy medicines,” he said while crying. “I pray to Allah that no girl is ever born in a poor family.”

The old man elaborated that while his daughter was alive they were living a happy and carefree life. “Now, we do not have enough money to travel to the court for her murder case hearing that is due on July 17,” he told The Express Tribune.

Azeem said the rules are only for the powerful in this country and alleged that during the whole investigation process, the police failed to take action against Mufti Abdul Qawi, who is also responsible for Qandeel’s death. “Since the time Mufti Qawi’s video appeared with my daughter on social media, her life was in danger, Qandeel’s father said.



He said, “Mufti Qawi is a lawyer and I am afraid that someday he might issue a religious decree against me for supporting Qandeel.”

Meanwhile, Azeem also accused the police and NGOs for their biased behaviour. “Police can make people confess those crimes which they have not committed. But in our case, no one is willing to take Qandeel’s murder seriously even after the passage of one year,” he said.

He revealed the police deprived them of all the things that belonged to Qandeel. “The police took away her mobile phone, purse and other valuables worth Rs1 million,” he added.

He remarked, “I am totally disappointed with the justice system in our country. I only demand justice from Allah Almighty.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2017.