Pakistani-American girl killed by father, uncle in Quetta

A man who recently brought his family back to Pakistan from the United States has confessed to shooting and killing his 15-year-old daughter, reportedly due to his disapproval of her TikTok content, Pakistani police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on Tuesday in the southwestern city of Quetta. Initially, the suspect, Anwar ul-Haq, claimed that unidentified gunmen had shot and killed his daughter, who was born in the US. However, he later admitted to the crime during police interrogation, according to police official Babar Baloch.

Investigators revealed that the family had expressed objections to the girl's lifestyle, including her dressing and social gatherings, particularly related to her activities on TikTok.

"We have her phone, but it is locked," said police investigator Zohaib Mohsin, adding that the authorities were exploring all possibilities, including the possibility of an "honor killing."

Haq, who holds US citizenship, had recently moved back to Balochistan, Pakistan, after living in the United States for about 25 years.

He told police that his daughter began creating what he deemed "objectionable" content on TikTok while living in the US and continued sharing videos on the platform after returning to Pakistan. The police confirmed that Haq's brother-in-law had also been arrested in connection with the incident.

Haq has been charged with the murder, although authorities did not provide further details on his US citizenship or confirm whether the US embassy had been notified about the case.

The tragic incident highlights ongoing tensions in Pakistan over social media content and cultural norms. With over 54 million TikTok users in Pakistan, the government has periodically blocked the platform, citing concerns over content it deems inappropriate.

The country has a history of cracking down on what it considers "obscene" content, and the app has recently complied with requests to remove certain videos.

Honor killings remain a persistent issue in Pakistan, with over 1,000 women killed annually by family members or community members for perceived damage to family "honor."

These acts of violence often stem from behavior such as eloping, posting on social media, or defying conservative social norms.