Woman killed for opposing second marriage

LAHORE:

There appears to be no respite in incidents of violence against women in the provincial metropolis as police investigations have revealed that a man murdered his wife for refusing to allow his second marriage and a brother killed his sister over a dispute on share in family property.

In Shadara, a man allegedly murdered his wife over her refusal to allow his second marriage.

The accused was identified as Shahbaz Umar. He tied the knot with his cousin Noreen Mazhar, 25, two years back. Meanwhile, the suspect allegedly had developed interest in another woman. The couple had developed differences over the issue. Shahbaz wanted to marry the other woman also, but Noreen did not allow it.

To remove the hurdle in his way of getting married with another woman, the suspect allegedly stabbed his wife to death when they were alone at home. He cut her wrist with a knife.

The suspect later claimed that some unidentified people had barged into the house and murdered her.

Later, when the police included the suspect in the investigations over suspicion, it was revealed that he was the murderer.

Shahdara Town police registered a murder case against the accused on the complaint of the father of the deceased, Mazhar Hussain. He stated that his daughter was married to the suspect two years back. However, their marital relationship had soured due the man’s interest in marrying a woman of Shakargarh.

The issue often sparked argument between the couple during last three months. The complainant said that on August 9, his son-in-law knocked the gate of his house in the wee hours of the morning with the news that his daughter had been murdered by unidentified attackers.

When he along with other members of the family reached the spot, they found his daughter lying in a pool of blood. She had knife wounds on her wrist and neck.

Police have arrested the accused who confessed to the murder. They said they were investigating the matter further.

In another incident, a man got help of his friends to murder his sister and her husband for getting hold of her property in Raiwind.

The victims were identified as Beenish Hayyat and her husband Muhammad Awais.

The arrested suspects were identified as Ansar Javed and his friend Saim.

The suspects carrying firearms had barged into the house of Awais in Ludhewala village along with eight accomplices and resorted to indiscriminate firing.

As Awais and Beenish were coming downstairs, they shot Awais. He received a bullet injury in his chest. His wife came forward to protect him but another attacker opened fire, hitting Awais in his abdomen and the woman in her head.

The injured victims fell on the ground but the assailants kept on firing at them, stated Muhammad Anwar, brother of the deceased Muhammad Awais.

Beenish died on the spot, while Awais was shifted to a hospital in Raiwind but he succumbed to injuries.

Anwar told the police that the motive behind the murder allegedly by her brother was that Beenish was demanding her share in property.

The case was reported in June and police had registered an FIR under murder charges against the accused. After two months, two prime accused persons have been arrested by the police. The police said that they were investigating the matter further.

According to Punjab Gender Parity Report 2016, incidents of torture on women have increased by 20% while 173 women were killed for honour in 2015. In 2013, more than 5,800 cases of violence against women were reported in Punjab. Those cases represented 74% of the national total that year.

In February 2016, the Punjab Assembly unanimously approved the Protection of Women against Violence Bill, calling for an end to all criminalities against women such as domestic violence, acid attack, rape, psychological and economic abuse, stalking and cyber-crimes. The 31 clauses of the new bill provide an efficient system for complaint registration and penalties for offenders.

The new law emerges as a saving mechanism for prevention, combating and eradication of violence against women. The rate of violence against women throughout the country paints a very gloomy picture.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2020.