Pakistan's famous model shot dead

A famous model in Pakistan, Qandeel Balooch, was shot dead in her home district in Multan in Punjab province on Saturday, family and police in the region said.

Qandel Balooch, whose real name was Fouzia Azeem, had been the center of a controversy last month after she posted photographs online with a religious scholar Mufti Abdul Qavi. Balooch said she had met the scholar at his hotel room.

Police said that brother fired at Qandeel because of the release of photographs on social media.

The brother had asked her to quit modeling, a police source said.

The brother fled after the incident, police officer Azhar Akram said, adding that the brother was upset at the "disrespect" Qandeel had caused to the family.

Qandeel's father also confirmed the incident.

There were conflicting reports about the nature of the murder. One police source said the brother had strangulated Qandeel, who was living in Multan for a week.

Police said Qandeel had approached the interior ministry for security because of threats to her life. Endit