‘Murder’: Husband, in-laws granted bail

LAHORE:

Five murder suspects were granted pre-arrest bails on Wednesday by an additional district and sessions judge.

The suspects – identified as Muhammad Shafique, Muhammad Hassan Ijaz, Muhammad Riaz, Parveen Bibi and Iqra Bibi – were given bail against surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

Shafique is the husband of the victim, Rizwana Bibi.

The petitioners contended that they had been falsely implicated in the case. Shafique told the court that his wife had died while trying to abort their child. He said that Rizwana’s aunt had given her something to drink to induce a miscarriage.

It was the concoction that killed Rizwana, Shafique said. Deputy District Public Prosecutor submitted that the suspects had been named in the FIR.

According to the FIR registered by the victim’s father, Muhammad Anwar Hussain, Rizwana had a troubled marriage.

On September 26, 2011 Shafique informed Rizwana’s brother that she had consumed poisonous tablets and was being taken to Lahore General Hospital. Hussain alleges that before dying Rizwana told some relatives that the suspects had given her something to drink.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2012.