In a shocking revelation, the police disclosed on Monday that pictures of two young girls from Kohistan, including one who was tragically killed in an honor-related crime, were manipulated and circulated on fake social media accounts.
The incidents unfolded in different areas of the Kolai Palas district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Following the circulation of fake pictures, the victim, a young girl, was allegedly killed by her father and other male family members in an honor killing. The police have apprehended the father and recovered the weapon used in the crime.
Hazara Regional Police Officer Muhammad Ijaz Khan stated, “The father of the girl will be produced before the court today,” and mentioned ongoing police efforts to apprehend others involved in the decision to take the girl’s life.
Another similar case came to the attention of the police in a different village. The district police officer, along with a team, traveled for three hours to rescue the second girl. After being produced before the magistrate, she claimed there was no threat to her life, and the court returned her to her family. However, the police continued to monitor her situation.
The police are actively investigating the origins of the fake social media accounts that played a role in the tragic killing. Authorities are also looking into a historical case in 2013, where a video scam resulted in the killing of five women allegedly ordered by a jirga (local assembly) after a video clip went viral on social media.
Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (R) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah has taken notice of the matter and directed an immediate inquiry. The provincial police chief has been instructed to arrest all individuals involved in the incident, and measures are being taken to ensure the protection of the girl who appeared in the video with the deceased girl.
