Lahore shooting victims: Joint bank account for donations irks widow

Zahra Faizan, Haider’s widow, alleges she was never taken into confidence regarding the joint bank accounts.


Rana Tanveer February 24, 2011

LAHORE: The widow of Faizan Haider, one of the victims of the now notorious Lahore double shooting, has expressed reservations over the setting up of a joint bank account between her in-laws and the family of the other victim, Muhammad Fahim, for drawing financial assistance from the people of Pakistan.

Zahra Faizan, Haider’s widow, alleged that she was never taken into confidence regarding the development.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Zahra blatantly said that since she was Faizan’s actual heir, her in-laws had no right to claim his Diyat (blood money) without her consent.

Making clear that she was not in agreement with accepting compensation in exchange for Davis’ release, Zahra said she should have been told about the joint account before the news was made public, and considering that she is three months pregnant, she was bewildered at the notion that she had been sidelined from any decision making concerning the case against her husband’s killer.

Nabila Shehzad, Zahra’s mother, alleged that after her daughter had moved in to live with her following Haider’s death, Zahra’s in-laws advised them to keep their cellphones turned off and to move out of their house to avoid any police raids and media from hounding them. She suspects it was a bid for her daughter’s in-laws to strike a deal with the authorities in terms of the case.

The victim’s brother, Imran Haider, rejected the notion but admitted that his family had asked the public for financial assistance through a joint account.

Providing the details of the account, he said the account, bearing the number 06177900259503, had been set up under the names of Waseem Shamshad and Imran Haider, brothers of the victims Fahim and Faizan, at Habib Bank, Lahore High Court branch.

Responding to why his family had not kept Zahra in the loop regarding the said account, he said women’s input in such decisions was unnecessary.

Financial aid

On behalf of PLM-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat and PML-Q Secretary General Punjab Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, along with some other MPAs visited the residence of the bereaved widow Zahra Faizan and handed her Rs1,00,000 in cash and assured her that they would provide her and her expected child financial assistance for life.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

Bee | 13 years ago | Reply Well it shows that those who were anti the American should have put their money where their mouth is. Now their lives have been transformed. Good luck. We hope you give your kids a good education.
saher | 13 years ago | Reply this action of opening an account for donations is uncalled for and stains the position of the victims' families :S... sum step shud be taken to withdraw this.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ