A woman has accused her husband of shaving her head before divorcing her in the name of honour in the city.
Shifa Bibi*, 29, of Mohallah Thanda Choha, Nawanshehr, told the police her parents had married her off to Asif, son of Hussain of Mirpur village. She added they had two children and after two years Asif entered into another marriage.
Shifa said she had a difficult relationship with Asif’s second wife, Rubina, and even though she supported the family financially by selling embroidered products, Asif often beat her up. Shifa claimed whenever she left the house, Rubina used to brainwash Asif saying she was having an extramarital affair with a man in Bilal Town.
On Saturday afternoon, when Shifa returned home after selling the embroidered handicrafts, Asif’s mother Nisa Bibi and Rubina started assaulting her and accused her of having met a man, Babar, who Rubina dubbed as Shifa’s “lover”.
"After thrashing me, they locked me in a room and waited for Asif to return. He then beat me black and blue and shaved my hair off with a razor before divorcing me," Shifa told the police. She added Asif also forcibly took their two minor children into his custody.
Mirpur police have registered a criminal case against Asif, Rubina and Nisa Bibi but the accused are yet to be arrested. (Name has been changed to protect the victim’s identity)
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2014.
COMMENTS (31)
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@Pankaj: you are mistaken. It is not about polygamy. The same mindset exists in India. Dowry deaths, rape, honour killings-you name them. You will get a variety of crimes against women. Only when the attitude of men in society changes and women are empowered we shall see good results. I am a living example of a person who has stood up to domestic abuse and won the battle. The perpetrators of abuse are low life creatures who have poor social skills and end up in a gutter.
How many wives are allowed at a time in Pakistan ? The real reason is polygamy in this case ...... Interestingly no men or women raised this real issue here in their comments. ...... Is it crime in Pakistan to speak against having multiple wives ?
her parents had married her off to Asif . Says it all. Slavery, kidnapping and rape is illegal in most of the World - in some places it's "custom". Women aren't chattel.
@Ajamal: instead of getting into a senseless rat race trying to decipher "true" islam and judging what is the right practice as per islam or not, we should rather preach and try to practice humanity.
Trying to be the better muslim or doing what is truly Islamic has created a society of extremely judgmental and exploitative mindsets. Lets just try to live by universal human values.
I understand its tragic but does it merit headlines in a National level newspaper FGS ?
The man has two children already. He never thought of about his children.If he had,he would not have entered into second marriage. Why he forgot about upbringing of his children. Does such a person can be called a good human being or mentally sick? Why such
persons in our society treat women as animals and not as human being. Pscychologists, social scientists , religious scholar, and other should analyse the sick mentality prevalent in our society and throw light how a healthy society can be formed.
We are "Muslim" in the name only - we are actually a "shame" on the true religion of Islam. We don't practice even the basics of Islam.
@Syed: Yuss. its vary important. People should know how primitive Pakistan society is. World has moved to 21st century. Pakistan has regressed to 19th century.
Dear ET, Is this soo important to share such news?
Charge them with assault, wrongful imprisonment and possibly attempted murder.
This is what i like about ET, they never shy away or hide from things like this. More of this needs to be reported. So far ahead of every other pak news site.
@salman Bhatti: Yeah, we are seeing those values in Pakistan alright. BTW, can you name ONE nation where these values have served them well? Just one will do.
Welcome to Pakistan and our sense of 'honour'. If this is 'honour' then I give a damn to this primitive Pakistani speciality.
So, this man had two kids with his wife, then decided that after two childbirths she was not desirable enough. Instead of honoring the mother of his children, he married another, presumably younger woman. Then proceeded to beat up and divorce his wife.
Sick society and sick laws we have that allow polygamy, but only in favor of men, never women.
@salman Bhatti: Ah so solution is more religion? Genius.
@Lubna: This is not the responsibility of Imran Khan to stop the razors supply to Abbottabad. The case has been registered which shows good governance. Now its upto "independent judiciary"
@Hmm: Bollywood effect?
Bollywood shows women's head being shaved. Off by a husband suspecing her wrongly of infidelity? Please gibe an example.
@qadri da great: I like your name, its great and in-time.
Men like him must be exemplary punished and publicized well in electronic and print media to curb such crimes.
Totally wrong decision by illiterate parents to marry such spouse whom you don't like.... after marriage even if a man or women cannot continue they should respectfully separate themselves and let other to have his/her good life....... we cannot come out of conservative thinking. By the way I am also suffering but compromise!
wherever Islamic values are compromised, such reactions come out. We muslims need to inculcate islamic believes which can take us out of this quagmire. Everywhere we witness sense of disparity that results in extremism, honour killing and other shameful actions. Modern & liberal mind may not mean we forget values & religion. we must always remember islam teaches tolerance.
If this News made it to the Top in ET, then your editor should resign. You should point out corruptions cases etc affecting millions of pakistanis..
What can you do ? These are Bollywood effect . The curse of Bollywood .
Where is the CHANGE promised by Imran? No change.
Pakistan is without doubt a nation of honourable people - especially the men. They'll do anything to protect their honour.
woamn should be thankful;normally they murder
Ok not as much to complain as the stoned to death Lady ... Even in america spousal killing over cheating carries second degree murder charges
@qadri da great: Do you mean the victim had voluntarily let him shave her head? Please be realistic!
I have come to call my country Daram-istan, where in name of religion and honor the most heinous crimes are committed yet the culprits roam free.
there should be punishment for this, not just honor killings. the severe the consequences, the lesser the violent move. next time they'll just shave head, not beat up and one day they'll do no harm.
What a poor excuse for a man. Only happens in our tribal culture under the guise of man's superiority over women. Simply shameful. Of course the accused were not arrested.