Two men killed their children in separate incidents in the Punjab on Sunday and Monday after being upset with their wives.
Another man poisoned his three children, also after a quarrel with his wife. The children survived.
In Machi Goth, Rahim Yar Khan, a man beat up his 13 months old daughter and then tied her to a tree. The child’s mother said she had rescued her and taken her to a hospital but she could not survive. Doctors told reporters that the child had died because of internal injuries that could have been sustained during the beating her father gave the child.
Police identified the man as Latif Ahmed, a resident of Basti Jam Gamoon. They said Ahmed had had a quarrel with his wife for visiting her parents’ house without his permission. As soon as his wife returned, officials said, Ahmed snatched the girl from her, went into a room and locked the door. The wife told police that Ahmed had beaten up the child in the room. She said she could hear her daughter crying and screaming. She said he had later tied her to a tree.
The family’s neighbours that Daily Express talked to said that Ahmed had also killed his son a few months ago in a fit of rage. A member of the wife’s family, who did not wish to give his name, said that Ahmed was possessed by evil spirits.
He said Ahmed was notorious for his rage and had also tried to kill his mother and wife.
In the second incident, which took place in Khanewal, a man killed his wife and two children. Police said Javed had killed his family because of a property dispute with his wife, Rukhsana. Officials told reporters that Rukhsana’s brother had bought her a house in Khanewal because Javed was a drug addict and had frequent fights with her. Javed had wanted the house but Rukhsana had refused. She had recently filed for divorce.
Javed, said police, had convinced his wife and kids to return home on Sunday. On Monday, he opened fire on Rukhsana, his 22-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter, killing them on the spot. He then escaped.
In Shujabad, a drug addict administered poison to his three children after he was unable to persuade his wife to return home with him.
The two boys and a girl – aged 3, 9 and 6 respectively – were taken to a hospital, where doctors described their condition as “serious”.
Police said Sabir Hussain’s wife had left home a few days ago and gone to her parents’ house. On Sunday, Hussain went to see her and pleaded with her to return but she did. Upon returning, Hussain mixed poison in food and fed his children, following which they started throwing up. They were taken to hospital by neighbours. Hussain has not been arrested.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.
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