A new development in the Qandeel Baloch murder case took place on Monday, after Judicial Magistrate Pervaiz Khan in Multan extended the judicial remand of cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi for seven more days.
During the murder case hearing, the public prosecutor requested the court to order an extension in Qavi’s remand. After proceedings, the court extended the remand until November 20.
Qavi was earlier sent on 12-day remand by the court, which was extended after Monday’s hearing. Qavi was escorted to the court amidst high security keeping the sensitivity of the case in mind.
During the hearing, Qandeel’s father Azeem was also present in the court, where the judicial magistrate ordered the police to submit within four days a complete challan before the court.
On the other hand, a bail application submitted by Qavi was deferred by the district and sessions court on Monday for a day, as the relevant judge was not available for hearing.
It merits mention here that Qavi had earlier denied any involvement in Qandeel’s murder, but the father of the deceased had said in a statement before the magistrate that his daughter was murdered on the orders of the accused cleric.
Abdul Qavi was arrested by police on October 18 after his request for extension in pre-arrest bail application was turned down by the magistrate. On the day before his arrest, Qavi had appeared before a sessions court in connection with the murder case.
Details of Qandeel Baloch’s murder
Fouzia Azeem, popularly known as Qandeel Baloch, was strangled to death in her house in Karimabad area of Multan on July 16, 2016. Initially, all fingers were pointed at her younger brother, Waseem, for killing his sister in the name of ‘honour’.
On the night of the murder, police raiding parties had arrested Waseem from Dera Ghazi Khan, who later confessed that the murder was committed in the name of ‘honour’.
Police later held a press conference, where Waseem revealed that he had drugged his sister before strangling her to death because she had brought a bad name to the Baloch family due to her immoral and obscene acts shared over the social media.
During the same press conference, the accused had also informed that his decision to carry out the heinous act was reinforced by the controversy that erupted a few weeks before Qandeel’s murder. Per details, the model/actress had taken selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi and later shared them on her social media page.
Resultantly, the selfies went viral over the internet and caused a public uproar, due to which the cleric’s membership of Ruet-e-Hilal committee and the National Ulema Mushaikh Council were suspended.
