A court in Pakistan sentenced a U.S. citizen and his Pakistani brother-in-law to life imprisonment for the murder of the American’s daughter, a teenager from New York. The court found the murder, which occurred in January 2025, was premeditated.
The victim was 14-year-old Hira Anwar from Yonkers, New York. Known for her TikTok presence, Hira was an eighth-grade student who traveled to Pakistan after being lured by her father under false pretenses. She was shot outside her family’s home in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province.
Her father, Anwar-ul-Haq, a naturalized U.S. citizen and a long-time Uber driver in New York City, initially misled investigators by claiming unidentified gunmen were responsible. However, police determined that Anwar-ul-Haq, also known as Anwar-ul-Haq Rajpoot, had planned the murder, enlisting the help of relatives in Pakistan. The court convicted both men of murder, highlighting their shared criminal intent.
At Public School 16 in Yonkers, Hira was remembered as an outgoing student. She often shared videos featuring famous musicians like Zayn Malik and Chase Atlantic. Teachers described her as someone seeking independence and expressing herself freely.
The court observed that Mr. ul-Haq disapproved of her lifestyle, specifically her clothing and online interactions, deeming them a source of shame. His disapproval of her social media actions and male friendships further fueled the murder plot.
Prosecutors revealed that Mr. ul-Haq convinced relatives to aid in the crime after getting Hira to travel to Pakistan under the guise of a family vacation.
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