Pakistani Father Arrested for Murdering Daughter Over Refusal to Delete TikTok Account
Story written by Okafor Joseph Afam | Published July 11, 2025
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — A Pakistani father has been arrested in Rawalpindi for allegedly killing his 16-year-old daughter after she refused to delete her TikTok account, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Authorities say the fatal shooting, carried out under the guise of “honour,” is the latest in a disturbing trend of gender-based violence tied to social media usage in Pakistan. According to police, the man demanded that his daughter shut down her TikTok presence, and when she refused, he shot her dead.
Initially, the family attempted to cover up the crime as a suicide. However, a detailed investigation by local law enforcement revealed the truth, leading to the father’s arrest in the city neighboring Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
This tragic incident comes just weeks after 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf—who had amassed over one million followers—was murdered at her home by a man whose romantic advances she allegedly rejected.
Both cases have reignited national and international concerns over the increasing violence faced by Pakistani women and girls for expressing themselves online, particularly through platforms like TikTok.
Despite its growing popularity and role as a creative and financial outlet for many Pakistani women, TikTok continues to face scrutiny from authorities. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has repeatedly threatened to ban the platform over content it deems “immoral,” including LGBTQ themes and sexually suggestive material.
The digital divide also highlights systemic inequality. According to the Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025, only 30% of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to 58% of men—making it the widest mobile ownership gap globally.
This is not the first case linking social media activity to so-called “honour killings.” Earlier in the year, a father in Balochistan admitted to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter, claiming her TikTok videos brought shame to the family.
As Pakistan grapples with the intersection of digital freedom, gender inequality, and deeply rooted patriarchal norms, activists are calling for urgent reforms and stronger protections for women—online and offline.
