Property dispute: Man sets on fire his daughter, her children

Police say the family told them that Shabnam Bibi had tried to set herself on fire

FAISALABAD:

A man allegedly sprinkled kerosene oil on his daughter and her two children and set them alight in a Chak Jhumra police precinct early morning on Thursday. They had apparently had an argument over property.

A police spokesperson told journalists on Thursday that Shabnam Bibi, a resident of Chak 153-RB, had asked her father Muhammad Ishaq to give her a share in his property. They had an argument over the matter on Wednesday night after which Ishaq tried to set his daughter and grandchildren on fire. His wife had tried to help the children and was injured.

Shabnam Bibi, her 13-year-old daughter Kainat and son Ghulam Mustafa were rushed to Chak Jhumra Tehsil Headquarters Hospital from where Shabnam Bibi and Kainat were referred to Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Doctors said they their condition was critical.

Mehmooda Bibi, Shabnam’s mother, was taken to the Chak Jhumra THQ Hospital. Doctors said her condition was stable.

The Chak Jhumra SHO said the police had registered a case and started investigation. At first, members of the family told police that Shabnam Bibi had tried to set herself and her kids on fire after her father refused to give a share in property.

“Shabnam Bibi, however, gave a statement at the Allied Hospital accusing her father of trying to set her and her children ablaze.”

The SHO said that Shabnam Bibi told the police that the father and daughter had had an argument over property on Wednesday night and the morning after.

He said Muhammad Ishaq had managed to flee. “We have formed a special team to look for him and arrest him.”  

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2016.