Qandeel Baloch was Pakistan’s first ever social media celebrity. She had come under scathing criticism for her antics, videos and statements. Many despised her, yet always flocked to her videos. She had petitioned to the interior ministry for being provided security as she was receiving death threats but did not get a response. Fearing for her life, she had also announced her plans to settle outside of Pakistan, soon. All that came to a screeching halt when she was gunned down by her own brother, early Saturday morning in Multan.
Having auditioned unsuccessfully for Pakistan Idol, Qandeel left an impression on many for her entertaining appearance on the show
While the judges weren’t very kind to her, Ms. Baloch was thoroughly entertaining and massively determined to get what she wanted. Despite the early rejection, she continued to push for being given another chance to show off her vocal skills. Unfortunately, her lack of proper training didn’t allow her to make the cut.
She burst on to the mainstream consciousness with her “offer” to Shahid Afridi during the World Cup
Qandeel had asked Shahid Afridi to score big in the World Cup, and if he did, she said she would strip for him. This brought a lot of attention to her and a loyal fan base of those who loved to hate her, was born.
Qandeel went on to become the center of many a controversy
Her affinity attention, selfie skills and outrageous antics were all borne out of a conviction to take her life into her own hands. Having been married off at a young age to a man named Ashiq Hussian, Qandeel Baloch, then know as Fozia Azeem, was not made for the life she was born into. Her aspirations were higher, so were her dreams.
Without support from mainstream avenues, Qandeel took to the social media to gain a following, and the notoriety that followed. With her claims and sensational videos, controversy, and media attention soon followed.
And then Mufti Qavi happened
After her meeting with Mufti Abdul Qavi, the ex-member of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan, the group of Muslim religious scholars responsible for declaring the moon sighting that begins, and ends, the month of Ramazan, in Pakistan, Qandeel became a center of a massive maelstrom of criticism, threats and media scrutiny. While only the Mufti and Qandeel knew the exact details of what actually transpired, but the fact that the meeting between the two happened during the month of Ramazan, during fasting hours, brought a lot of unnecessary attention to the two.
International media attention brought her worldwide fame
After a BBC report on Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian, Qandeel Baloch became the darling of worldwide media attention. However, as is the norm, in this digital age, her fame was truly worth only fifteen minutes after which the media went chasing after their next big story.
The last major work of infamy that Qandeel was part of was the song “Ban”
She appeared in the music video of the song “Ban” by Aryan Khan, where Ms. Baloch can be seen rivaling the likes of Miley Cyrus with her twerks and provocative dancing. This video garnered millions of views and thousands of men and women hurling abuse at her for bringing shame to herself, their eyes and their country… and yet her view count kept increasing.
Her international media exposure, music videos and controversial appearances may have been hailed by some quarters but the criticism at home was only reaching a crescendo, culminating in what transpired into her brother murdering her in Multan during the early hours of Saturday, as per police reports.
It wasn’t her brother who killed Qandeel Baloch, it was Pakistan. The same Pakistan who cannot bear to tolerate Malala Yousafzai, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy or Dr. Abdul Salam. It was the same Pakistan that murdered Qandeel Baloch whose honor is besmirched at everything their women do. It was the same Pakistan who murdered Qandeel Baloch that lives for outwardly appearances while it has gone hollow on the inside.
Rest in Power, Qandeel Baloch.
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