Qandeel Baloch spoke to CT hours before being killed

Qandeel Baloch killed by brother; CT interview was probably her last.

Why don't you try and interview Qandeel Baloch?' read the message from the editor on Wednesday . She'd been in the news recently , but I read up extensively on her to understand exactly how controversial she was as a social media sensation in Pakistan. Her email ID was there on the net and I took a chance by mailing her my request for an interview. There was a lot to ask her -she was trending on Twitter for her twerk video, Ban, had pro fessed her love for Imran Khan, wanted to strip dance for her country if it beat India in the T20 World Cup, had got into a war of words with her former husband. She was controversy's favourite child.To my surprise, Qandeel took just a few minutes to reply and a telephonic interview was fixed for 2 pm on Thursday . It was an ecstatic moment for any journalist -the target was going to be met in no time. Qandeel was waiting for the call when I spoke to her that afternoon. So excited was she that she had mailed us her pictures even prior to the interview.

Talking to her I realised that she had a childlike excitement about everything she did - twerk or talk.Through the long chat, she spoke about the threat to her life because of the controversies around her and how she was made to remain underground because of security reasons. We did not speak about where exactly she was.

The impression she gave was of a self-made woman, proud of her achievements. She spoke about doing good work on both sides of the border. "In Pakistan, people are not ready to accept me. It'd be much easier for me to work in India. See, I want to change Pakistani society .There are many women who are forcefully married off, where their spouses torture them. I have been through a lot and look where I have reached today . If I could come this far, I'd definitely go further. I want to help out women in the country .But people won't let that happen.There's a threat to my life and the situation is so bad that I am made to remain underground. I can't step out and haven't gone to courts to answer the summons," she told us.

Then, on Saturday morning came the devastating news that Qandeel has been killed by her brother in Multan. She wanted to make a music video after Ban, where she would look better and be in greater control of her art. She also wanted to work in India if a good offer came her way . That was not to be. Qandeel, 26, was gone too soon.