Archaic traditions: Woman, alleged lover killed

The lovers were gunned down during a jirga.

MANSEHRA:

A married woman and her alleged lover were gunned down in the name of ‘honour’ during a jirga in Paira village, Mansehra on Sunday.

Police and eyewitnesses said 25-year-old Asmeen Bibi, wife of Sajid Shah, was allegedly involved in an extra marital affair with a man identified as Ashraf.

To settle the dispute between the families of the two, a jirga was convened in the village which Asmeen and Ashraf were asked to attend. During the jirga, the woman’s brother Babar Shah and cousin Abid Shah opened fire at them, killing both on the spot.

Meanwhile, three people of a family were killed in Haripur on Sunday.

Abdul Razaq, a resident of Rawalpindi, had gone to see his relatives in Khanpur with his children. As the family was returning, a speeding truck rammed into their motorcycle, killing Razaq, his son and daughter.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2014.