Woman remanded for burning daughter alive

LAHORE

An anti-terrorism court on Friday granted five-day physical remand of one Parveen Rafique, accused of burning alive her 17-year-old daughter in the name of honour who had contracted marriage of her own choice.

The court has also remanded for the same period co-accused son-in-law of Parveen Bibi namely Mushtaq. However, the third accused Anees, brother of deceased girl, is still at large. Both the accused will be produced again before the court by June 15. On Friday, factory area police produced both accused before the court and sought their physical custody to carry out investigation. The police informed the court that both were nominated in a murder case of burning alive a girl Zeenat registered by her husband. The court after hearing plea of police granted remand of both accused directing police to produce them again by June 15 along with investigation report till that date. Earlier on Wednesday, newly-wed bride Zeenat was burnt alive for honour allegedly by her parents over contracting love marriage in the Factory Area police limits. A case was registered on the complaint of victim’s husband named Hassan Khan, a resident of Chungi Amar Sadhu. He is a motorcycle mechanic by profession. Hassan in his statement contended that he contracted love marriage with the victim on May 29 through a local court. Three days back, victim’s cousin Mushtaq Ahmad visited his house and asked her to go back home so that marriage ceremony could be held in a proper way.

On the day of the incident, Hassan Khan got information that his in-laws were subjecting his wife to torture. He rushed there along with his father and witnessed that his brother-in-law Mushtaq and mother-in-law were setting her ablaze. As a result, she received multiple burns and died on the spot. Police after being informed reached the scene and collected evidences. Police registered a case against three suspects, including the victim’s mother, brother Anees and brother-in-law Mushtaq, under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 336/8 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Later, autopsy report of the deceased revealed that the girl was tortured and was tied to a bed. The report further stated that Zeenat had rope marks around her neck.