Man accused of burning son alive gets bail

KARACHI:

The Additional District and Sessions Court West has granted a bail to a man accused of burning his 12-year-old son alive over alleged "lack of interest in his studies".

While approving the bail plea of the accused, Nazir, at Karachi City Courts on Friday, the Additional District and Sessions judge ordered the accused to deposit a surety bond worth Rs.100,000. According to the counsel for the accused, the judge ordered the investigating officer to complete and submit the report in the court.

Nazir's wife Shazia claimed that her husband had threatened to burn their son alive. "How I would face my son, Shaheer, on the day of the judgment? I'll pursue this case for my son, no matter what," she said.

Police said that Nazir allegedly doused Shaheer in kerosene oil and set him ablaze to punish him for "unsatisfactory" academic performance. His wife registered the case against Nazir, at Iqbal Market police station. The report states that the 12-year-old asked for his father's permission to fly a kite. In return, Nazir asked about him about his academic progress and homework. Shaheer could not give a satisfactory answer which "enraged" his father and he took the gruesome step.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2022.