Woman attempts suicide to avoid ‘disgrace’

Step-son traps her in a room with a man, accusing them of having an ‘affair’.

ISLAMABAD:

A woman attempted suicide following accusations of an “illicit relationship” by her 16-year-old step-son. Jameela* drank spirit after her son locked her in a room with a man and gathered the entire neighbourhood to ‘witness’ his step-mother’s ‘illicit’ relationship.

Police said the external examination of the 34-year-old woman showed no signs of sexual intercourse. Jameela refused a comprehensive medical examination. According to the Women Protection Act, she cannot be forced to do so.

Doctors describe her condition as stable. She said that the motive for her act was to avoid public “disgrace” and “dishonour”, upon discovering that she was locked in the room with her “friend”.

The police said that Jameela was a resident of Chakian village and lived there with her step-son. The boy’s father has been settled in Dubai for many years.The police also had other revelations which shed suspicion on the boy’s motives. They said he was angry with her for not giving him his desired share from the money his father sends periodically. They added he had previously been produced at police stations in various cases.

*Name has been changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2011.