‘Honour’ killing: Father, uncle pardoned by mother

LAHORE: Additional District and Sessions Judge Hamid Hussain released three men accused of killing a woman on Tuesday after her mother said she had forgiven them. Khatoon Bibi had registered an FIR against her husband Muhammad Sadiq, nephew Muhammad Arsalan and her brother Shahid Hussain saying her daughter Saima Bibi had been married but not yet sent with her husband when she was abducted in 2009. However, she later told a court that she had not been kidnapped and had been away of her own free will. Later, she said the girl eloped with her kidnapper and contracted marriage with him. She said that on July 24, 2011 she came to meet her when she was not at home. She said her husband, brother and a nephew strangled Saima. On Tuesday, the complainant forgave the accused men and the court gave directions for their release.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2012.