Caustic affair: Woman dies from burns, family blame in-laws

Asima’s relatives stage demonstration, demand her in-laws’ arrest.

FAISALABAD:

A woman died on Sunday at hospital from burn wounds received on October 2. Her family members later staged a protest, demanding the arrest of her in-laws for allegedly setting her on fire.

Millat Town police said that 33-year-old Asima Bibi, a resident of Sabina Town, was brought to Allied Hospital with third-degree burns. “She succumbed to her wounds on Sunday,” police said.

Asima’s relatives staged a protest demonstration against police for not arresting her in-laws, who, they claimed, had murdered her.

Talking to reporters, Ghulam Rasool, Asima’s father, said that his daughter had married Ghulam Abbas, a resident of Sabina Town, six years ago

“The couple had four children. They had frequent arguments and Abbas used to beat up Asima to please his parents,” he said.

He said that the couple had another argument on Thursday (October 2).

“Ghulam Abbas then set Asima on fire with help from Shahbaz Ahmad and Muhammad Sabir. She was then taken to Allied Hospital. Doctors there said she had more than 90 per cent burns,” he said.

“The doctors tried their best to save her. She was pronounced dead on Sunday (today),” Ghulam Rasool added.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against the police and demanded the immediate arrest of Ghulam Abbas and his two accomplices.

On receiving information, a police contingent arrived at the spot and negotiated with the protesters.

They assured Asima’s relatives that police would register a case against the accused.

On receiving the assurance, the demonstrators called off their protest and dispersed. Police then took the body to a hospital for post mortem examination.

Millat Town Station House Officer (SHO) Waheed Shahid told The Express Tribune that they had registered a case on the complaint of Ghulam Rasool.

“Ghulam Rasool has nominated Abbas, Shahbaz Ahmad and Muhammad Sabir in his complaint.

A special team was formed to arrest the three. It has arrested Ghulam Abbas and Sabir. We are still searching for the third accused,” he said.

Talking to The Express Tribune from the police station, Abbas denied murdering his wife.

“I had an argument with Asima over some minor issue.

She became furious and set herself on fire after pouring kerosene oil on her body. We tried our best to save her. We also took her to the hospital for medical treatment. If I had wanted to murder her, I would not have taken her to hospital. Instead, I would have fled,” Abbas said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2014.