Family affair: Christian accuses in-laws of setting her on fire

Elderly father-in-law was not at home but booked in FIR.

KARACHI/SANGHAR:

A 35-year-old woman, Sheba Naureen Masih, from Sanghar who was burnt allegedly by her in-laws on Monday was brought to Karachi from Hyderabad’s Civil hospital in critical condition.

Sheba has accused her mother-in-law of locking her in the room, dousing her with kerosene oil and setting her on fire when she insisted she wanted to go to her parents. She said that there was no one in the house when her mother in-law, Shakila, attacked her.

For her part, Shakila refutes the allegations and says Sheba was suicidal. “She is like my daughter, how could I do this to her?” she told The Express Tribune on Wednesday. “Sheba is not an outsider, but my brother’s daughter.” According to her Sheba and her husband Riaz had wanted to move to Hyderabad and they had not stood in their way.

According to Shakila, she was in the kitchen when Sheba set herself on fire in the room. “I rushed to the room when I heard the cries and tried to overcome the flames with clothes and water,” she said.

A case has been lodged in Sanghar police station by Sheba’s father, Yaqoob Masih, who has nominated Shakila and her husband Ishaq Masih. “There was no clash in the family before this incident but Sheba wanted to go back to Hyderabad,” Ishaq said. “Sheba’s mother telephoned her daily but I don’t know what the real intention behind all this was. We have done nothing. We are innocent.”

DSP Sharif Shar told The Express Tribune that Sheba’s in-laws were both extremely old. “I don’t think they could do it,” he speculated, adding that Ishaq’s name is in the FIR even though statements indicate he was not at home at the time.

The police are investigating the matter by questioning the residents of Padri village, which lies about five kilometers from Sanghar. “We record the villagers’ statements again but the case seems a complicated one,” the DSP said.

According to doctors at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad, Sheba was badly burnt and is seemed unlikely she would survive.

Dr Shahid at the Karachi Burns Centre informed The Express Tribune that Sheba has organ injury and that her upper body, including the face, chest and both hands were burnt severely. “About 32% of her body is burnt and she is in critical condition.”

Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri has taken notice of the incident and directed the authorities to provide her medical facilities and legal assistance.

Sheba married Riaz five years ago and the couple has two children.

with additional input by Altaf Koti in Hyderabad

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2012.