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Munazza with her family.
A woman killed her four children before committing suicide on Friday, reportedly as a result of not getting along with her in-laws.
Munaza, 40, a nurse by profession and employed at the Social Security Hospital, called her husband Riaz, a police constable who also owns a cable service, in the morning when he was on duty. According to Riaz, Munaza was crying as she told him that she had injected their four children – three girls aged nine, six and four, and a three-year-old son – with poison and was about to inject herself as well.
Riaz rushed back home and took them all to the nearby Itifaq Hospital where the children were pronounced dead on arrival and Munaza as being critically unwell. She was then shifted to Lahore General Hospital where she died after seven hours.
The autopsies were conducted at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.
Riaz said that his wife was crying on the phone, saying that she could not bear to see her children mistreated by his five brothers and their wives, with whom the couple shared the three-storey house in Gulbahar Colony.
Apparently, Munaza had for a while wanted to move to a separate house, alleging mistreatment of her children. Riaz said that he had told her a day before that he was looking for another house.
Munaza’s sister Razia said that she had tried to kill herself earlier as well, for the same reasons.
The two families also exchanged harsh words at the hospital though Munaza’s family maintained that she had a good relationship with her husband.
The two had married of their own will.
The Liaqatabad Police Station said that they would file an FIR against Munaza for suicide and the murder of her children.
This article has been revised to reflect the following update:
Update: June 26, 2010
The detailed story published in The Express Tribune has replaced the initial report held within this post.
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SASTI ROTI is applicable only when people have enough money to buy that as well. Giving Rs.1000/= under the BISP is only making a poor pakistani a begger. Couldn’t we atleast form a team to work together on the poor with all that money being spent on political stunts, whereby their children could get free education and free food in breakfast & lunch, lessening the burden on parents. Further, the so called women societies can then work on exploiting the skill set of such married woman, so that they can earn with their husbands respectfully and turn the tough times in their favour, BUT who bothers? The policicians are busy in corruption and getting people to kill each other, and themselves as well.Recommend
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Elaey Rajeoon.Recommend
She should be saved at all costs. This was not a case of poverty, but rather a murder by a mad women of her children. Domestic disputes do occur in every household, but it takes a lunatic to carry out what she has done.
The doctors must save her, and the police must put this horrible person behind bars so she may suffer for the rest of her life!Recommend
do not make heros to those who were kiliing them self and thier child . thier are multipule resons when person rach this stage .Recommend
SAd Story :(
this is We called Pakistan…Recommend
did she kill herself because of poverty or because of the dispute?
You really need to make that clear because this doesn’t look like a case of poverty.
May Allah rest her soul in peace. AmeenRecommend
What we are giving message as a whole nation is very SAD…..Although suicide is prohibited act in Islam and no one can appreciate it….BUT we have to also look into root causes of such incidents which are increasing very rapidly…….Load Shedding is an issue which is creating very negative impact on the minds of peoples and if we gather psychological affects on the life of peoples this is one of the reason, second biggest reason is Inflation or price hike …..Flour prices which were Rs. 13 two years ago are now 34/ similarly all necessary kitchen items are 400% up during last two years….salaries are not being increased in similar way in private organizations while government is announcing increase in salaries for government staff which is only 10% of total population so rest of 90% peoples are depressed. Law and order situation is also a reason for bad psychological impacts. The difference between life of ordinary peoples and richer peoples is also creating problems in the minds of poor.
The honest peoples are not being rewarded but are being discouraged in the society and their own families resulting situation more problematic. They are seeing from top most level to bottom least level all are getting benefits of their seats and majority of peoples are corrupt and they are not even considering ‘Rishwat’ (Speed Money) as bad thing……
We are heading towards revolution very fast…..God Bless our country and our peoples too…..I am not seeing any way with current political system in Pakistan.Recommend
My previous comment also spoke about the rulers sitting in the federal cabinet, who are busy in their vested interests in the name of the coountry, and then use provincial trump cards to sway away from questioning.Recommend
ELLAHI!!!!!Recommend
This is really Sad News for us. Our Govt is begging in front of IMF and now they have made all the poor to beg in front of them and get so called SMART card under Benazir Fund programme ??? This is really crap The Chief Minister & The Governor should immediately resign………Recommend
The fruit of democracy, wait you will get some more fresh in this government.Recommend
Proud day for a nuclear power once again!Recommend
I agree with not making this woman or any other recent cases into heroes or even victims. They chose to kill themselves and were evil enough to take more innocent lives. Murderers should not be condoned, whether they kill their own children or take lives of perfect strangers in a suicide explosion.
Prayers for the departed souls and the devastated family.Recommend
Pakistan is for Mulla and Military! Ask them, they are quite happy and content.Recommend
Yr Suicide is Haram in our Religion wherever the conditions are…… What is happening…. ?Recommend
The headline implies the deaths were poverty related but the article suggests a domestic dispute as the cause. In consecutive sentences, the cause of death changes from injection to eating of the poison.Recommend
My mother always use to send food we cook to poor before we eat . Is my wife is follow this track answer is No . am I see people around me in what condition they are living ! is they are needed something no I am quit busy I have lot to do and it is state’s responsibly , government cut its expenditure , return corruption amount and so so so so so . That’s it after giving these stupid comments my responsibility is over . my dear friends in nation 63 history government do noting for us our elder help each other and we reach here . if Adul satter Edhi , Adib rizvy , imran Khan , Selani Welfare and Alamgier Welfare waited for state can they build such institutes . when a person attempt suicide whole his close relative , his close friends and close neighbor are equally responsible for this . yes we also pressurize Gov . to with draw all subsidy and whole amount divert to deprive people . I can afford wheat 35 per kg but give it rs.2 for poor . I can afford petrol rs 70 per liter but give rs 1000 or even 3000 to each poor family .Recommend
I am waiting for Governer Punjab vs Law Minister exchange of statments over this incident.Recommend
It is appalling how psychiatric illnesses and personality derailments are confounded by our sources of information into what’s the hot news of the time. I am not saying Pakistan isn’t poor; but this headline could well have been: Mad woman kills 4 children and commits suicide, instead of glorifying her heinous act by stating her to be ‘Poverty Stricken.’Recommend
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Elaey Rajeoon. so so sad X-(Recommend
What ever the reasons were of her commiting the suicide. Dont say may her soul rest in peace because she murdered her children and then commited suicide. She cant be a muslim.Recommend
I think it was more of a dispute than a case of poverty ridden suicide. Asif Zardari is doing a fine job as President and should be supported.Recommend
We are moving towards a DEAD END..!!!
i dont have any words to say … !!!!Recommend
Different media outlets are reporting different stories. Tribune (Express) is reporting suicides were committed because of POverty where as others have been reporting it was a result of domestic fued between Wife and Husband over living in a joint family.
Please in pursuit of breaking news do not forget your responsibilities.Recommend
well thats the situation in paksitan,poors are suiciding themselves due to poverty because they can’t even arrange two times food for their chidren and its very shameful for the people who are sitting in the government,who do not care about the poor and are themselves enjoying different perks and priveleges.Recommend
Budget is presented before the session of the assembly
where peoples representatives are present and hearing
they trumpet on the following stages;
when their allowances increased
when they are gifted more facilities
on the announcement of development project from which they are hopeful
and begin to see the way of incoming .
You can see every budget will be representative of upper class
not lower one such as,
high ranking public officials,
private institution relating to high level businesses but poor on
every stage is disregard where poor people are stand
no promotion no increase
their salaries are remained same
they more come down from the line of poverty
at last the point come, point of no return,
subsequently are failed to face the prices going fast toward sky.
And after ward daily quarrel is started between heads of the family (wife and husband)
Now result before you you should consider seriously.
Prepare the budget give preference to poor,make ways through which they receive their right as citizen of this Islamic republic Pakistan.
Some time i think perhaps they are cleaning the way of Blood ResolutionRecommend
She could have worked as a domestic helper rather than choose to embrace the reprehensible act of taking her life along with her 4 innocent kids… What has happened to the faith of today’s Muslims? I can remember the Hadith of beloved Prophet Muhammed now “Poverty may well become a cause of infidelity” Very heart wrenching news, very depressing…Recommend
Friends who are reluctant to digest the unfortunate incident on the account of poverty, should come out of their air-conditioned rooms and experience the situation on the ground. There is a little statistics for them that might open their eyes a little.
Poverty is curse. It is on the rise around the globe specifically it is rapidly increasing in Pakistan stated by the latest report of the World Bank (2009).
A World Bank report titled ‘Sparing lives, better reproductive health for poor women in South Asia’ has revealed that Pakistan’s 37.4 per cent children under the age of five are malnourished and poor women and children’s nutritional status may worsen if food prices continue to climb out of reach of the poor in Pakistan.
People living below the poverty line (based on $2-a-day criterion) account for more than 73.6 percent in Pakistan,
According to the State of the World Children Report, 2009, the per capita healthcare spending in Pakistan stands at 18 dollars out of which only four dollars are spent in the public sector per annum, while by minimum international standard we need to increase per capita healthcare spending to at least $45 per annum.
According to Pakistan, Planning Commission (2009), poverty rate has jumped from 23.9 to 37.5 percent in the last three years. The commission has estimated that in 2005 there were 35.5 million people living below the poverty line but in 2008 their number increased to over 64 million. It is stated that over 64 million people, out of 160 million population has plunged into the poverty pool. Consequently, unemployment has also increased. Moreover, 40 percent of the urban population lives in slum areas. Reduction in social sector spending is increasing poverty and has reduced the standard of living in the country.Recommend
i think army should take over ……..
its more than enough.Recommend
This is really sad newsRecommend
The government has become too selfish in collecting taxes, increasing electricity, water, sui gas tariffs and have no control on the increasing inflation in the market.
The salary of an ordinary person is Rs.7,000 per month and it is difficult for an ordinary person to survive in this meager salary.
The government has raised 50% salaries for the government servants but has not announced raise in salaries for the people working in private sector.
In this case, both wife and husband were employed. But despite earning two salaries, the family was facing financial difficulties due to unprecedented inflation.
What lesson do we learn from this incident? Is government in a position to help such people from its kitty? I don’t think so.
With the passage of time people will forget this incident, but no body will bother to save more poverty stricken people from committing suicide.
The number of suicide cases will rise in the times to come.
We must look around and start helping such people from now onwards to save precious human lives.
Let us not wait to hear for a similar incident in the country.
No body is going to take all the wealth which they have accumulated into their graves.
Poverty is a national crisis.
We should face this challenge as we are facing other challenges like terrorism, Taliban’s, sectarian and target killings, inflated utility bills etc.
We must learn to live not only for ourselves but for the sake of others.Recommend
really sad news, But what will be our future.
we poeple know about 60% of Pkistan’s population are
poor familys living in our country.
But our Politicians, Mr President, Prime Minister and alot of
our Big personolities is doing what?????
May Allah rest there soul in Janat ul Firdous. AmeenRecommend
I am very surprised by the ludicrous comments of the readers on this tragedy. This isn’t about poverty or domestic abuse but about the Mental Health Status of the poor woman. It could be a case of post par tum depression or some other mental illness. For God sake my country mates we don’t have any mental health helpline or suicide helpline or trained psychiatrists to deal with issues of such tragedy. In USA here these are common news but why we blame a person’s poverty or other things for a simple murder suicide case.Recommend
thats why Talaak should be perfect 4 these kind of situations…why lifes of childeren….disgustingRecommend
we need a big change in our country … well our media is also fake and just sold out…. i m waiting for a big change …. and inhsaALLAH i wish tht it happens in our life… the story is so sad…is story ki sab se bari wajaah illterecy hy… there is a soloution of any problem…. but thts not mean tht u just sucide….. thts not the solution.. may Allah bless our country… and wish to be a big change…Recommend
It is said that a country is reflected by a country’s people; the level of bigotry, social issues, moral and legal corruption, violence, terrorism, and many other things (you name it) have reached a parabolic height in Pakistan. And on top of this, we have these issues. I’m wondering what will happen to Pakistan. It’s citizens and politicians have already made no mistakes in making it a lunatic hole.
Regards,
an AustralianRecommend
Please try to live in limit and control our extra ordinary expenses and and face the all problems of life with confidence. May Allah give us power to face all the problem of life Aameeen.Recommend
Police would file an FIR against her. She is dead. What are they going to do? Hang her corpse?Recommend
The woman had no where to go, no house, no parents as she married to her own will.
Forget the sasti roti the government, NGO and private sector needs to provide transit houseing for such people who are suffering harrasment.
Rather then file FIR against the dead woman police need to invesigate the harrasment.
No civil servant or csp will order such a inquiry, no court will intervene.
No one will morn the dead!Recommend
regardless who was the real culprits or responsible it is shame for a society that innocent kids had to pay for dispute among families. we have become selfish for the sooth of our remaining life’s we dont care future generation.Recommend
it is better to abort before birth rather killing them later for any issues…its rather painful to kill the dreams and hopes of those innocent infants who don’t come in this world by their own will and every right to live in any condition.Think b4 commit anything!Recommend
This seems to be the end of the story. Pakistanis being arrested all over the world for terrorism and drug trafficking. Pakistanis committing suicide of hunger. And Pakistanis fighting a case of blasphemy against the whole world.Recommend
it is very sad (YA ELLAHI KARAM KAR)Recommend
this is so sad. how can someone blame the mother? she was surely in a depressive state of mind. Noone can actually say what feelings hopelessness and depression can cause in a human being. This poor mother. I feel, that she didnt know a way out of her situation. Maybe from the outside no situation would actually justify wat the mother did. But this is not a question of justifiction but only a very lonely person who didnt know better. I think its better that the woman also died. If she had survived…how would she have go on …? With the fact that she killed her 4 children. Poor children. Poor woman.
Weak husband.Recommend