Qandeel Baloch’s murderer released by court

The Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has acquitted Waseem Azeem. Waseem is also Qandeel’s brother. As per media reports, Justice Sohail Nasir announced the verdict on the basis of an agreement between the parties and on retraction of statements recorded by the witnesses.

Lawyer Nighat Dad, while talking to The Current, said that she is “shocked” at the decision. She continued by adding that Qandeel’s father, who passed away a month ago, had lost his sight and was disabled, and that he was the only one who was pursuing the case in one way or another. She added that the state should answer how the acquittal has been made possible.

Qandeel’s lawyer Safdar Abbas Shah while talking to BBC Urdu said that he had submitted the letter of consent from Qandeel’s parents that they have no objection if the court acquits Waseem. He further said that Waseem has now said that he did not murder Qandeel and police took the confessional statement by threatening him.

Qandeel Baloch, a social media star, was strangled to death in Multan in July 2016 and her brothers Waseem Azeem and Aslam Shaheen were accused of murdering her. A model court in Multan sentenced her brother Wasim Azeem to life in prison for murdering his sister. Life imprisonment means 25 years in jail.