Fauzia Azeem, known on stage as Qandeel Baloch and popularly called Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian by her fans, is dead, aged 26.
Her parents claimed that one of her six brothers strangled her to death as she slept in the family’s home in Multan, Pakistan on Saturday.
Multan Police Chief Akram Azhar says the police have been searching for the brother, Waseem Azeem, who runs a local mobile phone shop.
Dr Mushtaq Ahmed, who was part of the team that conducted Baloch’s autopsy said “ the lady might have died of suffocation.
“She might have been given some poisonous substance before being strangled.
“The final opinion on her death would be possible only after the report of the chemical examination.’’
Baloch, a social media celebrity, who shot to fame with a series of social media posts, fought to break social taboos and empower women.
She recently appeared in a music video — gyrating bare-legged in high-heels and a see-through top to a rap song.
Baloch built up a large social media fan base, with 40,000 Twitter followers and more than 700,000 followers on her official Facebook page.
She presents herself as a symbol of female empowerment in a country where she claims domestic violence is common.
The day she died, she had earlier posted a picture with the message: “No matter how many times I will be pushed down under, but I am a fighter I will bounce back.’’
Also, on July 14, she posted: “As women, we must stand up for ourselves, for each other and for justice. I believe I am a modern day feminist.
“I believe in equality. I don’t think there is any need to label ourselves just for the sake of the society. I am just a woman with free thoughts free mindset and I love the way I am.’’
She faced a threat when she described herself as Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian and posted self with prominent cleric in a Karachi hotel room.
Shortly after the development, she raised an alarm that she had received death threats and solicited Interior Ministry’s protection.
