The case regarding the killing of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch took a new turn as four of the prosecution’s witnesses changed their previous statements and refused to recognise Mufti Abdul Qavi.
Mufti Abdul Qavi had been held responsible for Qandeel’s murder by her parents. The four witnesses had earlier recorded their statements under section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code, in which they had accused the cleric of being behind the murder.
However, the witnesses have now declared their statements recorded by the police to be false. The said witnesses are also the close relatives of the model. In today’s hearing, the court had summoned more witnesses to record their statements.
Last week, Qandeel’s parents had submitted an affidavit in Multan Court saying they had forgiven the killers of their daughter. However, the court had rejected the pardon appeal.
After Qandeel’s murder, her father Muhammad Azeem, had alleged that their daughter was killed on Mufti Qavi’s orders and that he had been offered money to drop the charges.
Qandeel was allegedly murdered by her brother and cousin in July of 2016 in the name of ‘honour’. In May 2018, the court had indicted five suspects, including Mufti Qavi.
The change in statements may not help the alleged murderers of Qandeel - her brother and cousin - but proving the allegation that Mufti Qavi was behind the social media star’s murder may now be difficult.
Mufti Abdul Qavi had been held responsible for Qandeel’s murder by her parents. The four witnesses had earlier recorded their statements under section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code, in which they had accused the cleric of being behind the murder.
However, the witnesses have now declared their statements recorded by the police to be false. The said witnesses are also the close relatives of the model. In today’s hearing, the court had summoned more witnesses to record their statements.
Last week, Qandeel’s parents had submitted an affidavit in Multan Court saying they had forgiven the killers of their daughter. However, the court had rejected the pardon appeal.
After Qandeel’s murder, her father Muhammad Azeem, had alleged that their daughter was killed on Mufti Qavi’s orders and that he had been offered money to drop the charges.
Qandeel was allegedly murdered by her brother and cousin in July of 2016 in the name of ‘honour’. In May 2018, the court had indicted five suspects, including Mufti Qavi.
The change in statements may not help the alleged murderers of Qandeel - her brother and cousin - but proving the allegation that Mufti Qavi was behind the social media star’s murder may now be difficult.