Pakistan-Based Father Kills U.S.-Born Daughter Over TikTok Videos

A Pakistani-American man has confessed to fatally shooting his teenage daughter in Quetta, Pakistan, because he was displeased with her activity on TikTok, police reported.

The tragic incident happened on Tuesday in southwestern city of Quetta. Earlier, the suspect, Anwar ul-Haq, reported that unidentified gunmen have shot his 15-year-old daughter. He later confessed to having committed the crime during further investigation, a police official Babar Baloch said.

Motivator of the Killing

Police investigations showed that the family strongly disapproved of the teen's clothing, way of life, and interaction with people.

"Our findings suggest the family disapproved of her dressing, lifestyle, and social gatherings," police investigator Zohaib Mohsin said. Police are also investigating the case as a potential honor killing. The deceased victim's phone, which is still locked, is expected to yield more information in the case.

The family had recently moved to Pakistan's Balochistan province after spending about 25 years in the United States.

Suspect's U.S. Citizenship and Arrest

According to the police, Haq is an American citizen. He told investigators that his daughter, who lived in the United States for a while, started posting content he felt was "inappropriate" on TikTok and continued when she came back to Pakistan. Police have also arrested the suspect's brother-in-law, regarding the murder.

Haq has been accused of murder, although the officials have not furnished formal evidence that proves his citizenship to the United States. The U.S. embassy has kept mum over the incident, and the suspect's family has declined to comment before the media.

TikTok Usage and Social Media Regulation in Pakistan

With over 54 million users in the conservative nation, Pakistan is a significant user base for TikTok. In the country, the app has faced repeated bans from the government due to several issues with content moderation.

The incident happened when the Pakistani journalists have been protesting a proposed law aimed at regulating the content on social media. As critics note, the aim of this law is to suppress press freedom and strangle control over digital platforms. Once passed, the legislation shall establish a regulatory authority with powers of investigation, tribunals, and penalties for spreading false information, including fines up to 2 million rupees ($7,200) and prison terms of up to three years.

The digital space in Pakistan is already under increased curbs, including internet slowdowns and the ongoing blockage of social media platform X.

Conclusion

This tragic case brings into sharp focus the conflict between conservative values and modern digital expression. As the investigation by the authorities proceeds, it brings larger questions into focus: those of the safety of social media users in conservative societies and the role of government regulations in controlling digital platforms.