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Gulf Today
12-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Pakistani father kills daughter for refusing to delete TikTok account
Pakistan police on Friday said a father shot dead his daughter after she refused to delete her account on popular video-sharing app TikTok. The Rawalpindi police received information that the accused had asked his 16-year-old daughter to delete her TikTok account and shot her dead for refusing to do so. "The girl's father had asked her to delete her TikTok account. On refusal, he killed her," a police spokesperson told AFP. According to a police report shared with AFP, investigators said the father killed his 16-year-old daughter on Tuesday "for honour." He was subsequently arrested. The victim's family initially tried to "portray the murder as a suicide" according to police in the city of Rawalpindi, where the attack happened, next to the capital Islamabad. The accused, who went into the hiding after the incident, was nabbed by the police, he added. TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. On it, women have found both audience and income, rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy. Last month, a 17-year-old girl and TikTok influencer with hundreds of thousands of online followers was killed at home by a man whose advances she had refused. Sana Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media accounts including TikTok, where she shared videos of her favourite cafes, skincare products, and traditional outfits. TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. Women have found both audience and income on the app, which is rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy. However, only 30 per cent of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to twice as many men (58 percent), the largest gap in the world, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report of 2025. Pakistani telecommunications authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what it calls "immoral behaviour," amid backlash against LGBTQ and sexual content. In southwestern Balochistan, where tribal law governs many rural areas, a man confessed to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter earlier this year over TikTok videos that he said compromised her "honour." Agence France-Presse
Sinar Daily
11-07-2025
- Sinar Daily
Father kills daughter over TikTok account
The victim's family initially tried to "portray the murder as a suicide". 11 Jul 2025 02:44pm Pakistan police on Friday said a father shot dead his daughter after she refused to delete her account on popular video-sharing app TikTok. Photo for illustrative purposes only - Canva RAWALPINDI - Pakistan police on Friday said a father shot dead his daughter after she refused to delete her account on popular video-sharing app TikTok. In the Muslim-majority country, women can be subjected to violence by family members for not following strict rules on how to behave in public, including in online spaces. "The girl's father had asked her to delete her TikTok account. On refusal, he killed her," a police spokesperson told AFP. According to a police report shared with AFP, investigators said the father killed his 16-year-old daughter on Tuesday "for honour". He was subsequently arrested. Pakistan police on Friday said a father shot dead his daughter after she refused to delete her account on popular video-sharing app TikTok. Photo for illustrative purposes only - Canva The victim's family initially tried to "portray the murder as a suicide" according to police in the city of Rawalpindi, where the attack happened, next to the capital Islamabad. Last month, a 17-year-old girl and TikTok influencer with hundreds of thousands of online followers was killed at home by a man whose advances she had refused. Sana Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media accounts including TikTok, where she shared videos of her favourite cafes, skincare products, and traditional outfits. TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. Women have found both audience and income on the app, which is rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy. However, only 30 percent of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to twice as many men (58 percent), the largest gap in the world, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report of 2025. Pakistani telecommunications authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what it calls "immoral behaviour", amid backlash against LGBTQ and sexual content. In southwestern Balochistan, where tribal law governs many rural areas, a man confessed to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter earlier this year over TikTok videos that he said compromised her "honour". - AFP More Like This
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Straits Times
Pakistani father kills daughter over TikTok account: Police
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox In the Muslim-majority country, women can be subjected to violence by family members for not following strict rules on how to behave in public. RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan police on July 11 said a father shot dead his daughter after she refused to delete her account on popular video-sharing app TikTok. In the Muslim-majority country, women can be subjected to violence by family members for not following strict rules on how to behave in public, including in online spaces. 'The girl's father had asked her to delete her TikTok account. On refusal, he killed her,' a police spokesperson told AFP. According to a police report shared with AFP, investigators said the father killed his 16-year-old daughter on July 8 'for honour'. He was subsequently arrested. The victim's family initially tried to 'portray the murder as a suicide' according to police in the city of Rawalpindi, where the attack happened, next to the capital Islamabad. In June, a 17-year-old girl and TikTok influencer with hundreds of thousands of online followers was killed at home by a man whose advances she had refused . Ms Sana Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media accounts including TikTok, where she shared videos of her favourite cafes, skincare products, and traditional outfits. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Life Anti-smoking advisory in new plaque for controversial samsui woman mural World Trump nominates 'alpha male' influencer to be ambassador to Malaysia Business CEO salaries: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Business Popiah king Sam Goi makes $123.5 million offer to buy rest of PSC TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. Women have found both audience and income on the app, which is rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy. However, only 30 per cent of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to twice as many men (58 per cent), the largest gap in the world, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report of 2025. Pakistani telecommunications authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what it calls 'immoral behaviour', amid backlash against LGBTQ and sexual content. In south-western Balochistan, where tribal law governs many rural areas, a man confessed to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter earlier in 2025 over TikTok videos that he said compromised her 'honour'. AFP
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Express Tribune
When Pakistani women go online
Since seeing thousands of comments justifying the recent murder of a teenage TikTok star in Pakistan, Sunaina Bukhari is considering abandoning her 88,000 followers. "In my family, it wasn't an accepted profession at all, but I'd managed to convince them, and even ended up setting up my own business," she said. Then last week, Sana Yousaf was shot dead outside her house in the capital Islamabad by a man whose advances she had repeatedly rejected, police said. News of the murder led to an outpouring of comments under her final post – her 17th birthday celebration where she blew out the candles on a cake. In between condolence messages, some blamed her for her own death: "You reap what you sow" or "it's deserved, she was tarnishing Islam". Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media, where she shared her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional shalwar kameez outfits. TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. On it, women have found both audience and income, rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy. But as TikTok's views have surged, so have efforts to police the platform. Pakistani telecommunications authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what it calls "immoral behaviour", amid backlash against LGBTQ and sexual content. TikTok has pledged to better moderate content and blocked millions of videos that do not meet its community guidelines as well as at the request of Pakistan authorities. After Yousaf's murder, Bukhari, 28, said her family no longer backs her involvement in the industry. "I'm the first influencer in my family, and maybe the last," she told AFP. 'Fear of being judged' Only 30 per cent of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to twice as many men (58 per cent), the largest gap in the world, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report of 2025. "Friends and family often discourage them from using social media for fear of being judged," said a statement from the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF). In southwestern Balochistan, where tribal law governs many rural areas, a man confessed to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter earlier this year over TikTok videos that he said compromised her honour. In October, police in Karachi, in the south, announced the arrest of a man who had killed four women relatives over "indecent" TikTok videos. These murders each revive memories of Qandeel Baloch, dubbed Pakistan's Kim Kardashian and one of the country's first breakout social media stars whose videos shot her to fame. After years in the spotlight, she was suffocated by her brother. Violence against women is pervasive in Pakistan, according to the country's Human Rights Commission, and cases of women being attacked after rejecting men are not uncommon. "This isn't one crazy man, this is a culture," said Kanwal Ahmed, who leads a closed Facebook group of 300,000 women to share advice. "Every woman in Pakistan knows this fear. Whether she's on TikTok or has a private Instagram with 50 followers, men show up. In her DMs. In her comments. On her street," she wrote in a post. "The misogyny and the patriarchy that is prevalent in this society is reflected on the online spaces," she added. A 22-year-old man was arrested over Yousaf's murder and is due to appear in court next week. At a vigil in the capital last week, around 80 men and women gathered, holding placards that read "no means no". "Social media has given us a voice, but the opposing voices are louder," said Hira, a young woman who joined the gathering. The capital's police chief, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, used a press conference to send a "clear message" to the public. "If our sisters or daughters want to become influencers, professionally or as amateurs, we must encourage them," he said. afp
Gulf Today
16-06-2025
- Gulf Today
'This is a culture:' TikTok murder highlights Pakistan's unease with women online
Since seeing thousands of comments justifying the recent murder of a teenage TikTok star in Pakistan, Sunaina Bukhari is considering abandoning her 88,000 followers. "In my family, it wasn't an accepted profession at all, but I'd managed to convince them, and even ended up setting up my own business," she said. Then last week, Sana Yousuf was shot dead outside her house in the capital Islamabad by a man whose advances she had repeatedly rejected, police said. News of the murder led to an outpouring of comments under her final post — her 17th birthday celebration where she blew out the candles on a cake. In between condolence messages, some blamed her for her own death: "You reap what you sow" or "it's deserved, she was tarnishing Islam." Sana had racked up more than a million followers on social media, where she shared her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional shalwar kameez outfits. TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. On it, women have found both audience and income, rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy. But as TikTok's views have surged, so have efforts to police the platform. Demonstrators holds placards and a poster of Sana Yousuf during a protest held to condemn violence against women after she was killed for rejecting a man's proposal in Islamabad. AFP Pakistani Telecommunications Authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what it calls "immoral behaviour," amid backlash against sexual content. TikTok has pledged to better moderate content and blocked millions of videos that do not meet its community guidelines as well as at the request of Pakistani authorities. After Sana's murder, Bukhari, 28, said her family no longer backs her involvement in the industry. "I'm the first influencer in my family, and maybe the last," she told AFP. Only 30 per cent of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to twice as many men (58 per cent), the largest gap in the world, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report of 2025. "Friends and family often discourage them from using social media for fear of being judged," said a statement from the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF). In southwestern Balochistan, where tribal law governs many rural areas, a man confessed to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter earlier this year over TikTok videos that he said compromised her honour. In October, police in Karachi, in the south, announced the arrest of a man who had killed four women relatives over "indecent" TikTok videos. These murders each revive memories of Qandeel Baloch, dubbed Pakistan's Kim Kardashian and one of the country's first breakout social media stars whose videos shot her to fame. After years in the spotlight, she was suffocated by her brother. Violence against women is pervasive in Pakistan, according to the country's Human Rights Commission, and cases of women being attacked after rejecting men are not uncommon. "This isn't one crazy man, this is a culture," said Kanwal Ahmed, who leads a closed Facebook group of 300,000 women to share advice. "Every woman in Pakistan knows this fear. Whether she's on TikTok or has a private Instagram with 50 followers, men show up. In her DMs. In her comments. On her street," she wrote in a post. In the fifth-most-populous country in the world, where 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 30, the director of digital rights organisation Bolo Bhi, Usama Khilji, says "many women don't post their profile picture, but a flower, an object, very rarely their face." "The misogyny and the patriarchy that is prevalent in this society is reflected on the online spaces," he added. A 22-year-old man was arrested over Sana's murder and is due to appear in court next week. At a vigil in the capital last week, around 80 men and women gathered, holding placards that read "no means no." "Social media has given us a voice, but the opposing voices are louder," said Hira, a young woman who joined the gathering. The capital's police chief, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, used a press conference to send a "clear message" to the public. "If our sisters or daughters want to become influencers, professionally or as amateurs, we must encourage them," he said. Agence France-Presse Sana Yousaf was well-known for her social media activities, with nearly 800,000 followers on TikTok account and almost 500,000 on Instagram. Photo: Instagram
