SHAH DIN: The mother of Qandeel Baloch, the social media sensation who was murdered in a so-called 'honour' killing, said her son strangled his sister after being taunted by his friends over her behaviour.
The murder of Qandeel, who shot to fame posting risque videos and statements on Facebook, shone a spotlight on such killings and re-ignited calls for legislative action to curb the crime.
Speaking to AFP from her home in the village of Shah Sadar Din, Baloch's mother Anwar Wai wept as she recalled the shocking death at the hands of brother Muhammad Wasim.
“He killed my daughter after being taunted by his friends. They would infuriate him and tell him she is bringing you dishonour,” she said, surrounded by her husband as well as an adult son and daughter.
Qandeel's brother had been threatening her to stop posting photos and videos on Facebook, police said at the time of her death.
The desperately poor family, who live in a three-room house with mud for flooring, said they depended on Qandeel financially and did not know how they would cope without her.
Qandeel supported a dozen relatives
“She was an amazing daughter. I have no words that do her justice, and she took care of us much more than our sons including financially,” she said, adding the family were being put up in a house that Qandeel (real name Fauzia Azeem) had in Multan.
“She would phone us four or five times a day. If she wasn't able to call one day, she would tell us 'I'm sorry, I was working.'”
Qandeel was strangled to death by her brother, named Waseem, earlier this month in her Multan residence.
Who is Qandeel Baloch?
Baloch, who became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive "selfies" posted on social media, had amassed tens of thousands of followers.
"Nothing is good in this society. This patriarchal society is bad," Qandeel had said in a recent interview with Images.
In one of her last Facebook posts, Qandeel reiterated her unapologetic approach: "No matter how many times I will be pushed down under... I am a fighter, I will bounce back."
"Qandeel Baloch [is an] inspiration to ladies who are treated badly... I know you will keep on hating, who cares?" wrote Qandeel, who often referred to herself as a "one-woman army".
She is derided and feted in equal measure in Pakistan, but the popularity of her videos evidence frustrations of many young people tired of being told how to behave.
She shot to fame in Pakistan in 2014.
Earlier this month, Qandeel released a music video which she starred in alongside little known young singer Aryan Khan. Titled 'Ban,' the music video touched on Qandeel's status as a controversial social media icon, and was provocative given Pakistan's conservative standards for entertainment.
Days later a man claiming to be Qandeel's ex-husband made an appearance on TV, saying that Qandeel had a son with him during their brief marriage.
Qandeel confirmed his claims, saying she was forced into the marriage.
