A man in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, has been arrested after killing his 16-year-old daughter for refusing to delete her TikTok account, according to police reports. Authorities confirmed the father shot the girl on Tuesday, citing “honour” as his motive. The family initially tried to claim it was a suicide, but investigators quickly uncovered the truth.
This tragedy is the latest in a disturbing pattern of violence against women in Pakistan, particularly when it comes to digital expression. In a society where public conduct is tightly controlled—especially for women—social media use can trigger harsh consequences from conservative family members.
Just last month, a popular 17-year-old TikTok influencer, Sana Yousaf, was murdered in her home by a man whose romantic advances she had rejected. She had over a million followers across platforms, sharing content about local culture, beauty tips, and food spots.
TikTok has gained massive popularity in Pakistan, particularly among young users and those with limited literacy. It has offered women a rare opportunity to earn income and visibility in a country where fewer than 25 percent of women work in the formal sector. However, gender disparity in mobile phone ownership is stark, with only 30 percent of Pakistani women owning smartphones compared to 58 percent of men—the widest gap globally, according to the 2025 Mobile Gender Gap Report.
Despite its success, the app faces frequent scrutiny from Pakistani regulators. The government has banned or threatened to ban TikTok multiple times over alleged “immoral content”, often in response to public pressure from conservative groups.
Earlier this year, a man in Balochistan confessed to arranging the killing of his 14-year-old daughter over videos he said brought shame to the family, further highlighting the dangers many girls face for simply using the app.
