Mick Hartley

Pakistan again, and the return to the news of a high profile honour killing:

A Pakistani appeals court on Monday acquitted the brother of a social media star who was murdered in an “honor killing,” lawyers said.

Qandeel Baloch was strangled in 2016 after becoming famous for her suggestive and defiant social media posts.

The case became Pakistan’s most high profile “honor killing” of recent years — where women are punished, or killed, by male relatives for purportedly bringing “shame” to a family’s reputation.

Muhammad Waseem was found guilty of murdering his sister, Baloch, and had received a life-imprisonment sentence. But after serving less than six years in prison, he is set to walk free….

Baloch had become known for speaking of trying to change "the typical orthodox mindset" of people in Pakistan. She continued to post content — that was seen as provocative — despite receiving frequent abuse and death threats.

He – the brother – has stated that the behaviour of his sister was "intolerable", and he had no remorse. And now he's been acquitted and is free to go – thereby sending a clear message about what Pakistan really thinks of honour killings and of women who start to think for themselves.

Baloch’s killing triggered protests across Pakistan and sparked an outpouring of grief on social media.

Hundreds of women in Pakistan are killed each year by family members in the name of “honor".