A couple was arrested for allegedly aborting their six-month unborn daughter and dumping her body near a gutter after learning they were expecting a fourth girl.
The police registered a case under Section 338-C of the Pakistan Penal Code and placed the suspects in custody.
Polices said Muhammad Ehsan, a labourer residing in Tandlianwala City, had been married to Meraj Bibi for eight years.
The couple already had three daughters and one son. When Meraj became pregnant again, an ultrasound revealed the fetus was female. This led to frequent arguments between the couple, police said.
Eventually, Meraj approached a traditional midwife and underwent an illegal D&C (dilation and curettage) procedure.
She gave birth to a six-month-old premature baby girl, who was then allegedly abandoned near a gutter at Mahi Chowk.
Passersby discovered the body and informed police. SHO Tandlianwala City Sheikh Shoaib Ahmad arrived at the scene, took custody of the infant's remains, and launched an investigation.
Officers began questioning local midwives and, within 24 hours, traced the incident back to Meraj Bibi.
During interrogation, she confessed to the abortion and the act of disposing of the body with her husband's support. Police then arrested both Ehsan and Meraj.
SHO Shoaib Ahmad said the couple's actions were prompted by gender-based discrimination. "This is a tragic case rooted in societal pressure and ignorance," he added, emphasising that law enforcement would ensure justice is served.
Double murder case
A district and sessions court has sentenced a man to death on two counts for murdering his wife and her alleged lover.
According to the prosecution, Shaukat Ali Sheikh, a resident of Chak 246-RB Basti Hussain Shah Kukkar Wala, killed his wife, Sumaira Bibi, and Muhammad Zeehan on December 24, 2021, suspecting an illicit relationship between them.
District & Sessions Judge Abdur Raheem handed down the death penalty on both murder counts and ordered Sheikh to pay Rs2 million in compensation to the victims' families. Failure to pay the amount will result in an additional one-year imprisonment.
With additional input from APP
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ