Honour killing: Woman burnt alive in Pakistan’s Punjab province

Lahore, May 28

In a gruesome incident, a 20-year-old woman was burnt alive in the name of ‘honour’ in Pakistan’s Punjab province, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in Garh Maharaja, Jhang district, some 200 km from Lahore, on Friday.

Investigation officer Muhammad Azam told PTI on Sunday that Rajab Ali, along with his sons Jabbar and Aamir and some other family members severely tortured his young daughter before setting her ablaze at their house on May 26.

The police officer said the woman wanted to marry a man of her choice. “A day before, she had left the home and reportedly spent some time with him before returning,” he said.

Upon her return, her father, two brother and some family women tied her with a rope and severely tortured the woman before setting her on fire, Azam said.

The victim was shifted to hospital where she succumbed to her burns. “Before her death, she told police about those who set her on fire,” he said.

Police have arrested the father, two brothers and a sister of the victim.

A murder case has been registered against the suspects.

The officer said the arrested suspects offered no remorse for their act saying the girl had disgraced the family’s honour and deserved this fate.

Hundreds of women are killed every year in different parts of Pakistan in the name of honour.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has reported an average of 650 honour killings annually over the past decade. But since most go unreported, the real number is likely to be much higher.