Man’s moustache, beard shaved by brothers-in-law

Say he made a pass at his wife’s sister; Shahzad denies allegations.

VEHARI:

A man’s moustache and beard were shaved on Wednesday by his brothers-in-law, a few days after his wedding. He was then handed over to the police for “teasing his younger sister-in-law”. The man, Hafiz Mohammad Shahzad, has denied the allegation. 

Machewal police station officials registered two FIRs; a torture complaint by Shahzad against his brothers-in-law and one against Shahzad for teasing his sister-in-law; and arrested the three men.

Shahzad told police that he had married Sakina Bibi on September 30 and taken her to Gujranwala, where he lives. They were accompanied by Sakina Bibi’s sister Sidra Ali and brother Umar Hyat. The couple, says Shahzad, had had an argument the same night and had returned to Vehari the next day.

After a few hours, says Shahzad, Sidra Ali’s husband, Shaukat Ali, and Hyat beat him up and shaved his moustache and beard. Shahzad told police he had not teased his sister-in-law and was beaten up because of the argument he had with his wife.

Hyat and Ali admitted to beating up Shahzad and shaving his moustache and beard but said they had done so because he had made a pass at Sidra Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2012.