Rescue operation in Lahore recovers mother, infant locked up for a month

Man locked his wife in a room after father could not pay dowry


Our Correspondent November 28, 2017
PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE: In a dramatic chain of events, a rescue operation managed to recover a woman and her 10-month-old daughter who were being held captive in a room—for one month—by the woman’s husband.

The accused had allegedly been demanding more dowry from his in-laws in exchange for providing his wife with a “comfortable life”.

The woman, who was also pregnant, had been locked into a room for a month after demanding decent food and proper medical treatment on account of her condition.

However, the husband demanded more dower articles if she wanted to “live in peace.”

The woman informed her father Mirza Imtiaz, who was working as an electrician, but his financial condition did not allow him to meet these demands.

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When the husband learnt that further dowry would not be forthcoming, he locked his wife in a room. The detained woman was only allowed to prepare food and clean the house.

During her month-long detention, she tried to convince her husband and mother-in-law to allow her to make one phone call, but both of them refused.

However, on one fortuitous day, she was able to get through to her parents on the phone and told them about her dire situation.

Imtiaz proceeded to the court and filed a habeas corpus petition, seeking the recovery of his daughter from her husband’s clutches. He stated that his daughter was being held captive after he was unable to fulfill the demands of his son-in-law.

The judge deputed a bailiff who visited the house and found that the victim was detained in a room. Upon the arrival of the bailiff, the 10-month-old was picked by a woman present in the house. She warned that the baby would not be returned if the wife left the house.

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She went up to the roof, with the infant in hand, and was chased by women police officers. The baby was finally recovered after the efforts of the police force.

On Monday, Nishtar Colony Police presented the woman, along with her daughter, before the court. The judge asked her whether or not she wanted to go with her parents, to which she agreed.

Consequently, the judge ordered that the woman be allowed to leave with her father.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2017.

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