Father, uncle sentenced to life for 'honor killing' of 14-year-old girl in Pakistan

A father and his brother-in-law have been sentenced to life in prison in Pakistan for the "honor killing" of a 14-year-old American girl. The victim, Hira Anwar, a New Yorker, was lured to Pakistan and shot to death outside her family home in Quetta in January of last year.

Anwar-ul-Haq, the girl's father, initially told police that gunmen had attacked her. However, a police investigation uncovered that ul-Haq, a naturalized U.S. citizen, had orchestrated the murder with his brother-in-law. Both men have since been convicted.

Police investigator Zohaib Mohsin stated at the time that the family objected to Hira's dressing, lifestyle, and social gatherings, particularly her communication with boys. A district court in Quetta heard that ul-Haq believed his daughter's clothing, friendships, and social media presence were a source of shame.

This perceived shame motivated ul-Haq to convince his relatives to kill his daughter, who had traveled to Pakistan believing she was on a family vacation. The court heard that ul-Haq left his daughter alone in the street, feigning he forgot his phone, at which point her uncle drove by on a motorcycle and shot her. Despite the murder being premeditated, Judge Shahid Javed reduced the sentence from the death penalty, citing a lack of proven motive. The men were also fined $715 each. Lawyers for the convicted men plan to appeal the verdict.

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Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering.