Woman tortured, poisoned, set on fire

Victim's dying statement implicates three suspects

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

A woman who was allegedly tortured, poisoned and then set on fire by her husband, his second wife and his brother in the Darkhast Jamal Khan area has died during treatment at Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

According to sources, Zarina Bibi married Muhammad Umar 15 years ago in Nawan Janubi. The couple had no children, after which Umar repeatedly pressured Zarina to let him marry again.

In an effort to save her marriage, Zarina herself arranged Umar's second marriage with a woman named Zubeda. However, tensions soon escalated between the two wives.

Before her death, Zarina reportedly stated that Zubeda influenced Umar to throw her out of the house and divorce her. When Zarina refused to accept the divorce and returned home, arguments intensified.

Police said that a day earlier, Umar, along with his brother Ramzan and second wife Zubeda, allegedly subjected Zarina to torture, forced poison into her mouth, and then doused her with petrol before setting her on fire.

She suffered critical burns.

Rescue 1122 shifted her to the teaching hospital, from where she was referred to the burn unit at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, where she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

Darkhast Jamal Khan police registered FIR and launched a search for the four suspects, all of whom fled the area after the attack.

Man kills wife for 'honour'

In a separate incident in the Kot Mubarak area, a woman was allegedly murdered by her husband and paternal uncle on accusations of 'illicit relations'.

Police also thwarted an attempt by the suspects to secretly bury her.

In Band Shere Wala, Chak Koora, Bashiran Mai, wife of Abdul Sattar, was allegedly beaten and then shot dead by her husband and her uncle, Murtaza Jiani, in the name of 'honour'.

After the murder, the suspects allegedly attempted to bury her quietly without informing authorities. However, Kot Mubarak police received timely information and reached the site before the funeral.

Police took the body into custody and shifted it to Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital's mortuary for post-mortem.

Following the autopsy, an FIR was registered under Sections 302, 311, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of SHO Ghazi Irfan Mustafa.

Police have started investigations, and raids are underway to arrest the absconding suspects.