Honour killing?: Eighth grader allegedly killed by 13-year-old suitor

13-year-old Sultan's family claim the victim's family killed her.

UPPER DIR:

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her schoolmate over a marriage proposal in Matarh, Nihag Darra in Upper Dir on Saturday.

According to Warhi police official Shaukat Khan, Fouzia’s brother Imran reported Fouzia was cutting grass in the field outside her house at around 7am when fellow eighth grade student Sultan Zeb, 13, rushed to the field and opened fire at her. After killing Fouzia, Sultan fled.

The victim’s brother claimed Sultan and his family had visited their house several times to ask for Fouzia’s hand in marriage but were turned down. This was why Sultan killed her, added Imran. On his complaint, police filed a case and began investigation.

Sultan’s family on the other hand has denied the allegations.

Addressing the media at Warhi Press Club, his uncles Gul Sheerin and Feroz Khan maintained Fouzia and Sultan were students at Government Middle School Matarh and had been in love.

They corroborated Sultan’s family had asked Fouzia’s family multiple times for her hand in marriage with little success.

“Last week, Fouzia’s family threatened to kill Sultan after which we sent him away from Dir to another relative’s house,” said Gul Shireen.

Fouzia stopped going to school and on Saturday, her family killed her and is now laying the blame on Sultan, alleged Shireen.

They demanded authorities take action against Fouzia’s family and appealed to the chief minister and the Peshawar High Court to order an inquiry into the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2013.