Police arrest man for ‘setting wife on fire’

Accused used to allegedly force wife to bring money from her father

SUKKUR: A suspect was arrested by the police on Monday evening for allegedly setting his wife on fire over a domestic dispute in Chuna Bhatta, Sukkur, located within the limits of New Pind police station.

The accused, Jawed Gadani, married Shabana Gadani, daughter of Perwaiz Gadani, three months ago. According to reports, Jawed was a gambler and a drug addict and he used to force his wife to bring money from her father. Whenever she refused, the accused would allegedly torture her.



A few days back, he once again asked her to bring him money from her father, and on refusal, tortured her. As a result, Shabana left her husband's house and started living with her parents.

Infuriated, Jawed, along with his brothers, Saeed, Riaz and Imtiaz, broke into his in-laws' house late Sunday night, threw petrol on Shabana and set her on fire before fleeing.

The woman was taken to Civil Hospital, Sukkur, with severe burn injuries. The doctors said she has suffered burns on more than 70% of her body and advised the family to transfer her to a hospital in Karachi as the region lacks a burn centre.



While talking to the media at the hospital, Shabana accused her husband of setting her on fire and added that she took Rs50,000 from her father once on Jawad's demand, which he lost in gambling. She said her father is a poor man and cannot give money repeatedly, which is why she left and went to her parents.

On the complaint of Shabana's cousin, Abid Hussain Gadani, New Pind police had registered a case against the accused and his brothers. The police have taken Jawed into custody but his brothers are still at large.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th,  2016.