Desperate times: Poverty-stricken mother burns own children

Police claims the children’s father had an extramarital affair.

BAHALWALPUR:

A woman has set herself and her three children ablaze in a small town near Bahawalpur in an apparently poverty-induced incident.

Farzana, a resident of Tarranda Mohammad Pannah located around 80 kilometres from Bahawalpur, poured kerosene oil over her bed and that of her three children and set them on fire. Six-month-old Jahanzaib and two-and-a-half year old Kausar died immediately while six-year-old Ijaz was shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) in a severely-burnt condition. However, according to doctors at BVH, Ijaz’s condition was stable and he was shifted home after initial treatment.

Farzana, who has survived despite receiving severe burns, has been moved to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan under police custody.

The children’s father Jamshed, who works as a day labourer, has registered a case against his wife for their children’s murder.

Jamshed’s father Mulazim Hussain and his uncle Fida Hussain told reporters at BVH that the incident occurred due to starvation and financial crisis. But SP Investigations Sheraz said that while investigating neighbours, the police learnt that Jamshed had an extramarital affair, which could have been the cause.

A FIR has been lodged against Farzana Bibi at the Tarranda Mohammad Pannah police station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2011.