Qandeel Baloch murder: Parents’ plea for sons acquittal rejected

A court on Thursday dismissed a plea seeking acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brothers in the murder case of the social media star.

The application was moved by parents of Qandeel Baloch who was murdered on July 16, 2016 in the name of honor.

Two of her brothers Waseem and Aslam Shaheen were nominated as suspects among others

The parents of Qandeel Baloch on Wednesday submitted an affidavit stating that they have pardoned their sons.

On Thursday, they informed the court that they have pardoned only their sons not the other suspects

The court dismissed their plea and remarked that the judgement in the honor killing case would give after statement of all the witnesses are recorded.

The hearing was adjourned till August 24.

The judge asked them whether they were only pardoning their sons and not all the accused in the murder case, to which the parents responded in affirmative.

Judge Shafi informed them that he would decide their request after examining whether law grants them the right to pardon the killers or not.

“Do you realize what impact your pardon will have on the other accused in the case?” the judge went on to ask, addressing Baloch’s parents.

The court later dismissed Baloch’s parents’ application to pardon their sons, with the judge saying the case regarding murder in the name of ‘honor’ would be decided once the testimonies of all witnesses have been recorded.

The accused in the case, including cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi, were present in the hearing today. After Qavi informed the court that he leads prayers in Jhang on Fridays, the court adjourned the hearing of the case until August 24, when the statements of more witnesses will be recorded.