A father in Pakistan, who is also an American citizen, confessed to shooting and killing his teenage daughter in what authorities are investigating as an 'honor killing' after he disapproved of her TikTok videos.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday in the southwestern city of Quetta. The suspect, Anwar ul-Haq, initially told police that unidentified gunmen were responsible for the death of his 15-year-old daughter, who was born in the U.S.
However, Haq later admitted to the crime, police confirmed. His brother-in-law has also been arrested in connection with the murder, police said.
"Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering," said investigator Zohaib Mohsin as reported by The Guardian.
"We have her phone. It is locked," he added. "We are probing all aspects, including honour killing."
The teen had been sharing content on TikTok in both the US and Pakistan. Haq expressed strong disapproval of her continued social media presence, according to authorities.
The family had recently relocated to Balochistan province after spending about 25 years in the U.S. According to police, Haq believed his daughter's online content was "objectionable."
Police did not provide official documentation of Haq's American citizenship beyond his own claim, nor did they confirm whether the U.S. embassy had been informed of the case.
Pakistan, a country known for conservative values, has a long history of so-called "honor killings." More than 1,000 women are murdered each year by family members over perceived dishonor, according to The Guardian. These killings are often tied to social media activity, relationships outside of marriage, or other actions deemed unacceptable by their families or communities.
Pakistan has also repeatedly clashed with TikTok over content moderation, at times blocking the platform altogether due to what the government calls "obscene content." The app remains widely used, however, with over 54 million users in the country.
Police have charged Haq with murder, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities are working to unlock the victim's phone as they continue to examine motives. It remains unclear whether additional charges will be filed against other family members.
