No regrets, says Qandeel Baloch’s brother

Pakistani Internet sensation Qandeel Baloch’s brother Wasim Baloch has told the police he did not regret killing his sister, officials said on Sunday.

Baloch was arrested late Saturday by police from Dera Ghazi Khan where he fled with his friends after murdering Qadeel Baloch.

The police said initial investigations revealed the suspect acted alone and fled to Dera Ghazi Khan after strangling the social media starlet to death, along with two of his friends.

Wasim Baloch stated to police: “Qandeel was bringing dishonour to the Baloch people and I could not tolerate that. Also, her issue with the clergyman had increased our troubles.”

He said he drugged her and then killed her by suffocation around 11:30pm (local time) on Friday. He added that he had acted alone and was unrepentant. “I proudly admit to murdering Qandeel and I have earned heaven and honour by providing relief to my parents and family. After the videos with Mufti Abdul Qawi had gone viral on social media, I planned to murder her and was only waiting for the best moment,” he said.

“I am a drug addict but I was in my senses when I murdered her and I accept it with pride. Now everybody will remember me with honour that I have provided relief to my parents and brothers who were suffering for the last two decades because of her,” Wasim Baloch said. “Girls are born only to stay at home and to bring honour to the family by following family traditions but Qandeel had never done that. My friends used to send me videos and pictures on my mobile. Murdering her was better than committing suicide so I went with the former plan.”

Wasim Baloch was presented in criminal court on Sunday where he asserted, “I do not need a lawyer, I have no regrets for what I have done.”

Qandeel Baloch was buried in her home town in Dera Ghazi Khan Sunday. Her funeral prayers were offered in the tribal area of Shah Saddurddin. She was buried in her family graveyard where other family members are also buried.

Hundreds attended her funeral prayers, including locals as well as social rights activists from all over south Punjab.

Police sources said Qandeel Baloch’s parents were afraid that they might be killed by their sons as well. As a result, the police provided them with security during the funeral. According to her father’s wish, Qandeel’s body was shifted to Dera Ghazi Khan from Multan on Sunday.

According to the post-mortem report conducted by a panel of three doctors at Nishtar Hospital in Multan, she was murdered between 9 and 10 pm Friday. Her death was reported to rescue 1122 on Saturday morning in around 11 am. Her body was shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan around 2 pm Saturday afternoon and it remained there for more than 14 hours as her parents were coming to receive it after autopsy.

Qandeel’s father Azeem Baloch said his daughter was brave and he would not forget or forgive her brutal murder.

Mufti Abdul Qawi, a former member of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, has been nominated in a the First Information Report (FIR) regarding Qandeel’s murder. Fauzia Azeem alias Qandeel Baloch recently took the Internet by storm as she shared a couple of selfies and a video of herself with Mufti Qawi. The self-proclaimed model had also ridiculed the cleric on various television channels after the release of controversial content.

She had fled to Multan but had not disclosed her location due to security threats, the official added. “Qandeel’s brothers had asked her to quit modeling,” a family member said.

Her brother had been threatening her about uploading pictures and videos on social media, he added.

Mufti Qawi later said the model was turning to religion and had been fasting last month. “She had first wanted to meet Imran Khan (Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief) and I said that I will arrange a meeting between her and Imran Khan,” the cleric, who had been serving as PTI Punjab Ulema (clerics) wing before his scandal surfaced across social media, said.

He was removed from his designation by PTI leadership but he had claimed that he had not been removed and only Ruet-e-Hilal committee has suspended his membership.

He further added, “I have sympathy for Qandeel because she had started fasting and had come towards religious teachings. She was learning Islamic teachings from me and I had shared Quranic verses with her as she had complained of bad omens and evil eyes of jealous people.”