A New York man has been arrested in Pakistan after allegedly admitting to killing his teenage daughter over her TikTok videos, which he found "objectionable," authorities said.

The victim, 14-year-old Hira Anwar, was shot and killed in Quetta, Pakistan, near the Afghan border on January 27. Her father, Anwar-ul-Haq, initially claimed unidentified gunmen had killed his daughter before later confessing to the crime, according to Pakistani police.

"Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering," Zohaib Mohsin, a police investigator, told BBC.

Hira, who was born and raised in the United States, had been making TikTok content for some time, which her father disapproved of, police said. She continued to post videos after the family moved to Pakistan in 2023 following 25 years in New York, according to CNN.

Suspect Allegedly Deceived Daughter Into Leaving the U.S.

Police say Haq lured Hira to Pakistan under the pretense of visiting extended family before allegedly killing her in what they are investigating as a possible "honor killing."

Authorities have charged Haq with murder, along with his brother-in-law, who was arrested in connection with the crime. If convicted, Haq could face a mandatory life sentence under Pakistani law.

Haq, who has claimed U.S. citizenship, has not yet entered a plea. It remains unclear whether the U.S. State Department is involved or if he could be extradited to the United States. The U.S. consulate in Islamabad has not commented on the case.

TikTok, Social Norms, and Honor Killings in Pakistan

Hira's killing comes amid broader scrutiny of social media in Pakistan, where TikTok has faced multiple government bans in recent years over what authorities have described as "obscene content." The platform, which has more than 54 million users in Pakistan, has complied with government requests to remove certain posts.

Despite legal reforms, over 1,000 women are murdered annually in Pakistan in so-called honor killings, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The term is used to describe homicides committed by family members over perceived violations of conservative values, such as choosing a spouse, socializing with men, or posting on social media.

Babar Baloch, a police official in Quetta, confirmed that investigators had seized Hira's phone but had not yet been able to unlock it. "We are probing all aspects, including honor killing," he told Reuters.

Father's Justification and Family's Silence

Haq reportedly told authorities that his daughter's social media presence conflicted with the family's values. "He said she continued making content on the social media platform after they moved to Pakistan," CNN reported.

Hira's immediate family has not issued any public statements. Reuters reported that multiple requests for comment from her relatives have gone unanswered.

While Pakistani law now imposes harsher penalties on honor killings, convictions remain rare due to legal loopholes that allow victims' families to forgive perpetrators. Whether Haq's case will proceed to trial under Pakistan's stricter sentencing rules remains unclear.