Two men were handed life sentences in Pakistan on Saturday after being found guilty of the murder of an American teenager over fears her Western lifestyle would dishonor the family, international media outlets reported.
Hira Anwar, 14, was killed by her father and uncle in January 2025 after being lured to Pakistan. Anwar, from Yonkers, New York, was shot to death outside her family home in Quetta.
Anwar-ul-Haq, the girl’s father, told police gunmen had shot her. The police found that ul-Haq, a naturalized US citizen, had organized the killing with his brother-in-law, and both of them were convicted.
“Our investigation, so far, has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle, and social gathering,” police investigator Zohaib Mohsin told Reuters at the time.
A district court in Quetta confirmed that ul-Haw felt his daughter’s clothing, friendships, and social-media presence were a source of shame, particularly her communication with boys.
Judge sentenced the murderers to life in prison, instead of death penalty
A court heard that this shame motivated ul-Haq to convince his relatives to kill his daughter, who traveled to Pakistan, believing only that they were enjoying a family vacation.
Ul-Haq left his daughter alone in the street, pretending he forgot his phone inside their home. Her uncle drove by on a motorcycle and shot her, the court heard.
Despite Judge Shahid Javed acknowledging the murder was premeditated, he reduced the sentence from the death penalty, arguing that there was no evidence of a proven motive, the New York Times reported. The men were also fined $715 each.
Naveed Qambrani, a lawyer for ul-Haq; and Anwar’s uncle, Muhammad Tayab, told the Times they would appeal the verdict, saying the court’s decision had been impacted by external pressures.
More than 1,000 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of community or family members over perceived damage to “honor,” according to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Reuters contributed to this report.