Four houses were set on fire in Tirah Valley of Khyber district, after their residents filmed women for TikTok videos, sparking anger and prompting tribal elders to impose severe punishment, as reported by local media.
The report highlighted that the homes allegedly belonged to men accused of secretly recording women and sharing the footage on social media. Tribal elders ruled the act violated community traditions, ordering immediate retribution.
Witnesses said the burning took place in public view, intended as a warning to others. Some residents supported the action as necessary to preserve honour, while others criticised it as cruel and unlawful.
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The episode highlights growing friction between social media and tribal customs in Pakistan’s northwest. Platforms like TikTok, immensely popular with youth, often collide with conservative norms governing privacy and women’s visibility.
Opposition MPA Farrukh Javed Moon recently tabled a resolution in the Punjab Assembly urging a nationwide TikTok ban, arguing the app spreads “obscenity” and endangers children by promoting indecent online behaviour.
Moon’s resolution described TikTok’s live chat features as a “mafia” undermining social and moral standards. It asked federal authorities to act swiftly to protect young people from exploitation and moral decline.
