world

Updated: Jul 16, 2016 21:41 IST

Controversial Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch, famed for her suggestive photos and videos in a conservative nation, was killed by her brother “to protect the family honour”, police said on Saturday.

Baloch had earlier sought security, claiming she was receiving death threats. “I know I will not be provided security and I am not feeling secured here (in Pakistan), so I have decided to move abroad with my parents after Eid-ul Fitr,” she said later.

Police were informed by Baloch’s family that her killing took place on Friday night. “The brother was also there last night and the family told us that he strangled her to death,” Azhar Akram, a senior police official in Multan told AFP, confirming that officials suspected an honour killing. Police said the brother was now on the run.

Read: Pakistan’s internet sensation: Qandeel Baloch

Hundreds of Pakistanis, the vast majority women and girls, are murdered every year by relatives after being accused of damaging a family’s honour. Most suspects in honour killings are never prosecuted.

The Pakistani internet sensation was recently at the centre of a fresh row after an influential cleric’s membership of a top religious body was suspended for posing for selfies with her.

Baloch took social media by storm when she posted three selfies of herself with Mufti Abdul Qavi on her Facebook page. One of the images showed Baloch playfully posing with the Mufti signature hat on her head, while he was seen holding a cell phone to his ear. Another picture showed Qandeel posing with Qavi sitting next to her.

Earlier, Baloch had caused a sensation by promising to strip for the nation, particularly cricket captain Shahid Afridi, if Pakistan won the T20 match against India in March. This made her a household name in Pakistan.

Baloch had said she was 17 years old when she married and that the “abusive union” ended within a year. “He tortured me day and night during the one year I was married to him,” Baloch had said, adding: “After a year, I ran away with my son and sought refuge in Darul Aman.”

On Saturday, social media users expressed their shock over Baloch’s killing.

I hated Qandeel Baloch but I can never wish that upon any human. Terrible news. — Osama Bin Liaqat Mir (@oblmir) July 16, 2016

Qandeel Baloch has a history but no way honor killing by his brother can be justified in any court and even in Islam #QandeelBaloch — F. Stèin (@metalheadjunkie) July 16, 2016