Honour killing?: Woman killed under mysterious circumstances

Sources say she was beaten to death by her brothers, demand inquiry.

HARIPUR:

A woman was allegedly murdered by her brother for honour and buried in an urban locality of Haripur, police told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. Independent sources have demanded a judicial inquiry into the woman’s death.

According to the police, Fakhira Bibi*, 21, was allegedly beaten to death up by her brother after he suspected her of having an affair. Eyewitnesses told the police that Bibi had boarded a bus on Saturday and was leaving for Raheem Yar Khan when her brother forcibly took her back. The next day the family informed neighbours that Bibi had died during childbirth. She was buried soon after.

However, sources told the police that Bibi was returning to her husband, Akbar Khan, who lives in Raheem Yar Khan, due to the unbecoming behaviour of her brothers. The couple had separated a year ago after Khan became mentally ill and she developed differences with her in-laws. Bibi had come to live with her family in Haripur along with her son, who is now four years old.

Women who attended the funeral told the police that the woman’s body bore torture marks. Police started investigations into the death and brought her brother in for questioning. However, he was released soon after on a “personal surety”.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2012.