Tag: Qandeel Baloch

  • ‘Was shaken with her death’: Bollywood’s Alankrita Shrivastava announces Qandeel Baloch’s biopic

    ‘Was shaken with her death’: Bollywood’s Alankrita Shrivastava announces Qandeel Baloch’s biopic

    Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava has announced the biopic of Pakistani model and social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered in an honor killing incident in 2016.

    Shrivastava, along with producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna has acquired the rights to the book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch, by Sanam Maher, published by Aleph, it was revealed ahead of the Cannes Film Market.

    Shrivastava’s credits include feminist films Lipstick Under My Burkha and Netflix series Bombay Begums.

    Baloch, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, had stoked controversy in Pakistan by living a Westernized lifestyle and posting her thoughts on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Divorced from her husband, she had been nicknamed “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian” and “Pakistan’s first social media star.”

    “When Qandeel Baloch was murdered in Pakistan in 2016, I was shaken up,” Shrivastava said. “It was a heinous honor killing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I started watching Qandeel’s videos repeatedly, and I was fascinated. She was so charming and full of life. A poor girl from a small village, who worked her way up to being provocatively famous. She was just 26 when she was killed. And ironically, it’s only after her death that she has been reclaimed as a feminist.”

    Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava to direct a film on the tragic death of Pakistan's Qandeel Baloch - Entertainment News

    “Qandeel’s story needs to be told by a sensitive filmmaker who is passionate about women’s stories,” Sharma said. “Alankrita is just the filmmaker for it. And not just because she is an award-winning feminist filmmaker, but because she has so much empathy for her characters. She tells their stories with candor and warmth.”

    Khanna added: “Qandeel Baloch’s story is important and relevant. Even today women often continue to be at risk when they dare to express their individuality and challenge the status quo. I believe the world needs to watch stories like this.”

    Shrivastava noted: “I see this film as an ode to the courageous spirit of Qandeel Baloch. It will chronicle her sensational and astonishing rise to fame. I hope to piece together the memories of the rebellious, funny and vulnerable young girl, whose life was cut short because she shimmered too bright. The film will celebrate her spunk and lust for life by telling her story without judgment, hopefully the way she would have liked to tell it.”

    Recently actor Osman Khalid Butt has challenged the acquittal of Baloch’s brother in the Supreme Court (SC), Barrister Khadija Siddiqi stated on Twitter. She also termed it as a “test case”.

  • 22-year-model allegedly killed by brother while visiting on Eid

    22-year-model allegedly killed by brother while visiting on Eid

    A model was killed in the name of honour in Okara, Punjab. Sidra, who was only 22, was allegedly murdered by her brother in Okara’s 51-R village. She was murdered by her brother while visiting her birthplace to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.

    Police have registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s mother. Police have arrested the victim’s brother and have recovered the murder weapon.

    Hamza, the accused, used to forbid his sisters from modelling.

    This murder is believed to be the result of a violent argument between Sidra and her brother over the girl’s refusal to give up her modelling career.

    Qandeel Baloch, a social media star, was strangled to death in Multan in July 2016. Her brothers Waseem Azeem and Aslam Shaheen were accused of murdering her. A court in Multan sentenced her brother Wasim Azeem to life in prison for murdering his sister. Life imprisonment means 25 years in jail.

    Read more- Qandeel Baloch’s murderer released by court

    However, this year in February, the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted Waseem Azeem.

  • State files appeal against acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    State files appeal against acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    The state has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother Waseem Azeem, Parliamentary Secretary for Law Maleeka Bokhari said in a tweet. Waseem Azeem was convicted of Qadeel’s murder in 2016.

    “The state has filed an appeal against the acquittal in the Qandeel Baloch case. The Hon Supreme Court of Pakistan has an opport [opportunity] to set an imp precedent in cases of such brutal murders. The PTI Government led by PM Imran Khan continues to stand for the protection of the rights of women & girls,” the tweet read.

    The Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted Waseem Azeem on Feburary 14. The verdict was announced on the basis of an agreement between the parties and on retraction of statements recorded by the witnesses.

  • Osman Khalid Butt calls out Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Osman Khalid Butt calls out Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt tweeted on Qandeel Baloch’s brother Waseem’s acquittal last week, “Qandeel Baloch’s murderer walks free today after serving less than six years of his life sentence. He is on record admitting to drugging and murdering his sister. Someone please make this make sense to me.”

    He went on to comment, “We are in the concluding stages of a high-profile and incredibly brutal murder case even now – how does this ruling inspire any confidence (except to the guilty) in our judicial system? Six years – and an anti-honour killing Bill – later, we’re back to square one.”

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted the prime suspect and brother of model Qandeel Baloch, Waseem Azeem, in her murder case, abolishing the life imprisonment awarded to him by a sessions court.

    The LHC’s Multan bench cancelled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.

    In 2016, Muhammad Waseem was arrested after he confessed to killing Qandeel Baloch, 26, for posting what he called ‘scandalous’ pictures on social media. The case became Pakistan’s most high profile “honour killing” of recent years.

    The Baaji star also recently commented on Zahir Jaffer’s on-going case. He took to his Twitter to lash out at primary suspect, Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case.

    He penned, “After all this time, not a hint of remorse. Not a hint of shame. I hope you rot in the deepest pits of hell, Zahir.”

    The actor made his remarks in the response to Jaffer who retracted his confessional statement and refuted all the allegations of the murder of Noor Mukadam.

    'Rot in the deepest pits of hell': Osman Khalid Butt lashes out at Zahir Jaffer

    Zahir recently said that Noor called her friends at his house for a drug party, and she was murdered by someone else, maybe someone present at the drug party, and not him.

  • Govt to challenge the acquittal of Qandeel’s murderer in Supreme Court: Fawad Chaudhry

    Govt to challenge the acquittal of Qandeel’s murderer in Supreme Court: Fawad Chaudhry

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the government will challenge the Lahore High Court’s verdict of acquitting Waseem Azeem. Waseem Azeem was convicted of Qadeel’s murder in 2016.

    Chaudhry, while talking in a Geo News programme, said the government has told the judiciary to consider it [Qandeel’s acqutiall] as a ‘wake-up call’. He further said that the government will challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.

    He also requested the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to take action against the judge who took the decision of the acquittal.

    The Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) acquitted Waseem Azeem on Feburary 14. Waseem is also Qandeel’s brother. The verdict was announced on the basis of an agreement between the parties and on retraction of statements recorded by the witnesses.

    Qandeel’s lawyer Safdar Abbas Shah, while talking to BBC Urdu, said that he had submitted a letter of consent from Qandeel’s parents that they have no objection if the court acquits Waseem. He further said that Waseem has now said that he did not murder Qandeel and police took the confessional statement by threatening him.

    Qandeel Baloch, a social media star, was strangled to death in Multan in July 2016 and her brothers Waseem Azeem and Aslam Shaheen were accused of murdering her. A model court in Multan sentenced her brother Waseem Azeem to life in prison for murdering his sister. Life imprisonment means 25 years in jail.

  • Osman Khalid Butt, Meesha Shafi shocked and disappointed over acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Osman Khalid Butt, Meesha Shafi shocked and disappointed over acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday acquitted the prime suspect and brother of model Qandeel Baloch, Waseem Azeem, in her murder case, abolishing the life imprisonment awarded to him by a sessions court.

    The LHC’s Multan bench cancelled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.

    In 2016, Muhammad Waseem was arrested after he confessed to killing Qandeel Baloch, 26, for posting what he called ‘scandalous’ pictures on social media. The case became Pakistan’s most high profile “honour killing” of recent years.

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt tweeted, “Qandeel Baloch’s murderer walks free today after serving less than six years of his life sentence. He is on record admitting to drugging and murdering his sister. Someone please make this make sense to me.”

    He went on to comment, “We are in the concluding stages of a high-profile and incredibly brutal murder case even now – how does this ruling inspire any confidence (except to the guilty) in our judicial system? Six years – and an anti-honour killing Bill – later, we’re back to square one.”

    Osman concluded with, “This is not the first time sentences for heinous crimes have been reduced or overturned. Why do these loopholes still exist in our judicial system whereby murderers can eventually walk free?”

    Singer Meesha Shafi also spoke about Waseem’s acquittal. “So Qandeel Baloch killed in cold blood,” the popular singer tweeted, adding, “Her father, who tried to pursue justice above and beyond his means.. passed away. Her murderer, her brother, alive and roaming free once again. We’re living in the opposite world.”

    During the hearing on Monday, defending lawyer Sardar Mehboob argued before LHC Justice Sohail Nasir that the father of the model and complainant had passed away, adding that the witnesses had also deviated from their statements in the trial court.

    He said the sessions court had ignored the settlement reached between the parties. After hearing the arguments, the court acquitted Waseem by cancelling his life imprisonment. “He has been fully acquitted”, his lawyer Mehboob told AFP, without giving further details. The court order has yet to be made public.

  • Qandeel Baloch’s murderer released by court

    Qandeel Baloch’s murderer released by court

    The Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has acquitted Waseem Azeem. Waseem is also Qandeel’s brother. As per media reports, Justice Sohail Nasir announced the verdict on the basis of an agreement between the parties and on retraction of statements recorded by the witnesses.

    Lawyer Nighat Dad, while talking to The Current, said that she is “shocked” at the decision. She continued by adding that Qandeel’s father, who passed away a month ago, had lost his sight and was disabled, and that he was the only one who was pursuing the case in one way or another. She added that the state should answer how the acquittal has been made possible.

    Qandeel’s lawyer Safdar Abbas Shah while talking to BBC Urdu said that he had submitted the letter of consent from Qandeel’s parents that they have no objection if the court acquits Waseem. He further said that Waseem has now said that he did not murder Qandeel and police took the confessional statement by threatening him.

    Qandeel Baloch, a social media star, was strangled to death in Multan in July 2016 and her brothers Waseem Azeem and Aslam Shaheen were accused of murdering her. A model court in Multan sentenced her brother Wasim Azeem to life in prison for murdering his sister. Life imprisonment means 25 years in jail.

  • Four female celebrities who were offered India’s Bigg Boss after Veena Malik

    Four female celebrities who were offered India’s Bigg Boss after Veena Malik

    Veena Malik was a contestant on the hit Indian reality show Bigg Boss. The actress participated in its fourth season and received backlash for her frank antics on the show, including her romantic camaraderie with co-contestant Ashmit Patel. The makers tried getting more Pakistani celebrities on board, we exclusively reveal you these four female celebrities who were offered to be a part of Bigg Boss in the following years.

    Meera

    Meera in 2011 claimed that she was also approached to be a part of Bigg Boss 4 twice, but she refused it. She was also approached for season 5 hosted by Sanjay Dutt but couldn’t come to a negotiation with the production team. Meera famously lashed out on Veena for being too bold on the controversial show.

    Aima Baig

    Aima Baig candidly revealed on The Munshi Show , that she was approached to be a part of the Bigg Boss season 13 in 2019 but she rejected the offer as she didn’t know how her fans would react to it.

    Sadia Imam

    Sadia Imam in an exclusive conversation with Fahad Mustafa on Hum TV’s morning show revealed that she was offered to be in Big Boss season 5 but she rejected the offer because she believes it is a scripted show.

    Qandeel Baloch

    Late Qandeel Baloch, revealed in her interview with Sohail Wariach that she was offered to appear on the scandalous reality show. Qandeel was keen to be a part of the reality show in 2016 and also began her visa procedure for the same. She claimed in another interview that she was also approached for UK’s Big Brother.

  • Qavi stripped of ‘mufti’ title, isolated by family after getting slapped

    Qavi stripped of ‘mufti’ title, isolated by family after getting slapped

    Abdul Qavi, who has remained in the limelight for his controversial actions and alleged involvement in the Qandeel Baloch murder case, has been stripped of his ‘mufti’ title by the family that says Qavi is being hospitalised in a “mental institution because his thoughts are not in control”.

    In a press conference, Qavi’s uncle Wahid Nadeem announced that the cleric has been isolated in his house. “Abdul Qavi has been used by different people over the years for media attention,” the uncle said, referring to the recent controversies that the cleric had embroiled himself in.

    Nadeem said that Qavi shouldn’t be addressed as a ‘mufti’ because he brought shame to the family. “We have seized his mobile phones and now he is under treatment for mental illness he is suffering from,” he added.

    Dr Hafiz Abdul Kadir, personal physician of the scholar, reportedly said that Qavi will be kept away from the public eye.

    Recently, Qavi was reportedly slapped by TikTok star Hareem Shah after he passed “inappropriate comments and was rude” to her. The video of the incident was also shared by Hareem on her Instagram.

    In May 2020, Qavi had said that drinks with less than 40% alcohol by volume were halal. “Whichever drink contains alcohol below 40 per cent… that drink is halal. It means we can drink it. In my opinion, even the drinks that contain 100 per cent alcohol but are extracted from minerals… are also halal,” he had said during an interview.

    Earlier in 2018, the mufti was among five suspects, who were indicted in the case pertaining to the murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch.

    The murdered social media star had posted selfies and a video with Qavi on social media weeks before her death.

    It was alleged that he had incited Waseem Baloch, brother of Qandeel, to get rid of his sister in the name of honour after he received flack for his pictures with the girl. Qavi was also removed from the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after his pictures with Qandeel went viral.

    Some of his endeavours include, brazenly flirting with transgender Almas Bobby during a television show in 2015, and being accused of sexual harassment by a female reporter in 2017. He has also time and again been spotted in several videos on social media featuring various showbiz stars and internet celebrities.

  • Documentary on Qandeel Baloch debuts at America’s biggest documentary festival

    Documentary on Qandeel Baloch debuts at America’s biggest documentary festival

    Pakistan’s multi-award winning production house Soc Films’ latest documentary, A Life Too Short, debuted at the 11th edition of DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival.

    https://twitter.com/SOCFilms/status/1335931777840451586?s=20

    A Life Too Short chronicles the life of social media superstar, the late Qandeel Baloch, who pushed boundaries in conservative Pakistan like no other. She was killed at the age of 26 by her brother who smothered her to death for her open exclamations of women’s equality and sexuality through her sensational social media presence.

    “Making this documentary has been a labour of love for more than three years and now that it’s ready to go out into the world, I am both nervous and excited. Undoubtedly, Qandeel had big dreams and the courage to create her own identity but I am left terrified every time I realize that not all women amongst us are afforded their basic right to choose to live however they want. Yet I live for the day when there won’t be a price to pay should a woman choose to follow her heart.” said director Safyah Zafar Usmani while talking about the documentary.

    Qandeel’s belongings

    “Making biographical films is always tricky, but it’s harder when your subject is as complex and widely misunderstood as Qandeel Baloch. There’s so much more to her story than how it came to an end, but it’s really important for the world to remember the price Qandeel had to pay just because she chose to dream big and remain true to herself, and hopefully, this film will help do that,” said co-director Saad Zubairi.

    A Life Too Short was one of the 12 titles showcased this year at DOC NYC The Short List: Shorts. Last year the selection included seven of the ten films that went on to be named to the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Shorts and three of DOC NYC’s picks went on to be Oscar nominees. This year’s DOC NYC’s winning short will qualify for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards in 2021, without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

    Directed by Safyah, co-directed by Saad and produced by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the documentary also features executive producers Sheila Nevins and Guy Oseary, cinematographer Nadir Siddiqui and editor Mishaal Adhaami.

    Qandeel’s short but chaotic life has provided inspiration for several works including drama serial Baaghi starring Saba Qamar, Osman Khalid Butt and Ali Kazmi. Journalist Sanam Maher also wrote a book on the life of the late social media sensation titled The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch. The book also recently featured in the New York Times ‘Top 100 books of 2020’ list.

    Recently, Sharmeen’s set of short films HOME 1947 won the Best Film [Short Documentary] Award at the South Asian Film Festival of Montréal.