Blame games: Man stabs wife 23 times on suspicion

Neighbours say Luqman was the one having the affair.

BAHAWALPUR:

A woman was admitted to the hospital after she was tortured by her husband on suspicion of having an affair.

According to hospital officials, Ahmedpur East resident Luqman’s wife Rozina was admitted to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital on Friday in critical condition after her husband attacked her with a dagger. “She has suffered severe injuries and there are over 23 cuts and wounds on her body. Some of the cuts are deep and we have her in intensive care,” said Dr Rahman Zia.

According to neighbours, Luqman and his family locked Rozina in a room and tried to starve her before he attacked her with a knife. Zarina was married around 3 months ago and her husband suspected her of having an affair with a village resident. “Luqman is a drunk and he has been having an affair with his cousin for months now. Rozina caught the two a few days ago and when she demanded a divorce the family locked her up,” said a neighbour Fazal, adding “then they began to accuse her of having had an affair when it was the other way around.”

Rozina’s family said that Luqman had threatened her life and feared that she would tell people about his affair. “The police have been trying to get us to drop or accept financial compensation because Luqman’s family has paid them.

Our daughter may be dying and we want justice,” Rozina’s mother told reporters.

(Read: ‘Women must raise their voices against injustices’)

Mussafir Khana police have yet to register a case against the accused. Doctors say that Rozina’s condition is critical.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2011.