RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has handed over the Pakistani national Muzaffar Iqbal, who was an absconding suspect in connection with the murder of his sister — the late Pakistani model and the social media star Qandeel Baloch, to Pakistan.
The Saudi Interpol arrested Iqbal on Wednesday in response to a request from the Pakistani Interpol due to his alleged involvement in inciting the killing of his sister.
In July 2016, the Pakistani police revealed that the 26-year-old Qandeel was strangled by Muhammad Waseem, one of her brothers, at the instigation of her other brother Muzaffar Iqbal residing in Saudi Arabia.
Last September, a Pakistani court sentenced Waseem to life imprisonment after convicting him of strangling Qandeel to death for posting self-portraits and records that the perpetrator considered provocative.
Waseem confirmed, during a press conference, days after his arrest, that he did not regret what he had done, and that he had killed his sister because her behavior had become “unacceptable.”
Anwar May, Qandeel’s mother, said at the time that she hoped her son would be cleared, explaining, “he is innocent. She was my daughter and he is my son.”
It is noteworthy that after three months of this crime, the Pakistani parliament passed a law that stipulates life sentence for the perpetrators of so-called “honor killings.” — SG