17-year-old girl killed to save honour

Sania Bibi was shot dead on Wednesday by her uncle Hamid Khan in their native village of Tamer near Neelor in the outskirts of Islamabad. The 17-year old girl was shot dead by her uncle for allegedly marrying a person of her own choice and going against the family’s will.

Police said the suspect disappeared from the scene, along with the murder weapon after committing the crime. Neelor Police registered a case against Hameed Khan and efforts are being made for his arrest.

Police claimed that Sania bibi had eloped with the man after her family refused to accept her choice.

Earlier, her family had lodged a complaint against the man accusing him of kidnapping Sania. But she appeared in court and clarified that she was not kidnapped. “She had maintained that she eloped with the person of her will and later they had got married” said a police official.

After Sania’s confession in court, the complaint of kidnapping became irrelevant. However, the family succeeded in getting the couple separated through the forceful intervention of a local ‘jirga’. After their separation, the girl kept on insisting to go back to her husband but her family did not allow it.

She was killed on Wednesday by her uncle when she was back at her parent’s home. Police said Hameed Khan was not happy with Sania eloping with the boy.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2010.