Lahore woman torches teenage daughter for marrying man of choice

LAHORE: A woman set her daughter to fire for marrying the man of her choice here on Wednesday, police said. The 18-year-old girl died on the spot.

The victim, a resident of Mast Iqbal Road, had eloped with a man she liked and who her family disapproved of, said Station House Officer (SHO) Sheikh Hammad Akhtar.

Two days before the incident, the family coaxed the deceased to come back home on the pretext that they will send her off with their consent. However, when once she returned, her mother doused her with petrol and set her alight.

Police claim the victim's mother, while professing her crime, admitted to pouring petrol on her daughter and then torching her.

The police shifted the girl's body to a mortuary and arrested her mother.

Second Division Superintendent Police Ibadat Nisar said the deceased girl's brother, who had arrived from Dubai, has been missing since the incident happened, and police is looking for him.

There has been no mention of the victim's husband since her death.

Earlier this month, a 19-year-old school teacher was set on fire in Murree for refusing to marry a man twice her age.

Last month, police arrested 13 members of a local tribal council who allegedly strangled a local girl and set her body on fire for helping one of her friends elope.

The charred body of 17-year-old Ambreen Riasat was found in a burned van in the tourist resort of Donga Gali on April 29.

Nearly 1,000 women are killed each year in Pakistan in so-called “honour killings” for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage.

Pakistan

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

16-year-old girl set on fire as 'punishment' by Abbottabad jirga

The jirga that murdered Ambreen should be Pakistan's last

Girl torched in Murree for refusing marriage proposal dies of injuries

Jun 08, 2016 02:58pm

Shame! a rotten society not worth living in.

Recommend 0

Voice of Reason

Jun 08, 2016 03:01pm

I cannot imagine how a parent or sibling does this to their own family member. This idea of honour is corrupted beyond the worst nightmare. There is a simple truth - no-one should have the right to physically harm anyone whether they are 'innocent' or 'guilty', stranger or relation, Muslim or non-Muslim, Pakistani or Foreigner. The only time where this may be permitted is under the law and by the state and even then most enlightened societies do not do this. It all starts in a small way when society or religious so called scholars can justify 'lightly beating your wife' - you condone attacking someones human rights. No-one has the right to do this - not a husband to a wife or a parent to a child - these should be universal.

Recommend 0

Shahzad Ikhlaq

Jun 08, 2016 03:03pm

Horrendous!

Recommend 0

Vaidyanathan

Jun 08, 2016 03:03pm

Any religious minded person can never do such acts. Mother kills her own daughter out of ignorance. Very sad indeed

Recommend 0

Pathetic

Jun 08, 2016 03:06pm

Now the CM Shabaz will take video notice from London and issue instructions.

Recommend 0

Ali jee

Jun 08, 2016 03:11pm

It's our leaders where is the country's law

Recommend 0

SDA

Jun 08, 2016 03:27pm

@Pathetic And only instruction and no action.

Recommend 0

Joshi

Jun 08, 2016 03:31pm

Zak, hopefully this is nothing to do with India, America, Isreil and more importantly J&K

Recommend 0

Rohit

Jun 08, 2016 03:35pm

Another opportunity for the 'liberals' to make noise.@oregata Shame on You! its not a liberal conspiracy that led to this mother killing her own daughter........ All that "We" "Liberals" of this world want is to follow the principle of "live and let live" ....its your "ilk" that has a problem!

Recommend 0

Junaid

Jun 08, 2016 03:35pm

This is what happens when we as a society lack both civil and religious education. No where in Islam marrying out of choice is forbidden. This is a cultural stigma that is killing our society. Majority of Pakistanis shape their lives according to their culture instead of the religon. It should be the other way around.

Recommend 0

Kabeer

Jun 08, 2016 03:46pm

A society far from religion and humanity tribal culture and stone age rituals drive our society they have nothing to do with either religion and normal human norms

Recommend 0

Kabeer

Jun 08, 2016 03:54pm

@oregata "Another opportunity for the 'liberals' to make noise" very pathetic instead of condemning the loss of an human life you choose to ridicule liberals this is simply very sick

Recommend 0

Ashutosh Mishra

Jun 08, 2016 04:01pm

Wake up!!! Dale with it like human beings. Not Muslim or Pakistani or whatever!!! Eternal Peace to the unfortunate victim!!!

Recommend 0

Khurram

Jun 08, 2016 04:01pm

Shakes me to the core. How can someone do it?

Recommend 0

Nasiroski

Jun 08, 2016 04:02pm

@oregata Is that all that worries you? Loss of Human life, complete lack of Values, sad state of society none of that matters? really!!! Thanks for sharing how "non-liberal" see these events. Now we know how void of any sense and intellect are the "non-liberals".

Recommend 0

Mahmood

Jun 08, 2016 04:06pm

At least the torturer in this case was not a man! Otherwise we will see an endless line of feminists coming out to condemn the male-dominated society, extolling the vices of hardships women endure at the hands of the patriarchal society!

Recommend 0

Arun-KS

Jun 08, 2016 04:09pm

This is we brainy humans who does all such cruelties.

Recommend 0

bilal

Jun 08, 2016 04:17pm

now is this due to a patriachial society as feminists would say, all men and women are equally responsible for this rotten society

Recommend 0

zainab

Jun 08, 2016 04:19pm

@Mahmood so this makes what you said not true?! what do you mean |at least"? you are 'happy' that it was a woman? yes, women are also barbaric in this society. and also educated people. like yourself.

Recommend 0

Mullah Bob

Jun 08, 2016 04:19pm

some people still live in the midevil times.

Recommend 0

Mahmood

Jun 08, 2016 04:30pm

@zainab My point exactly. Thank you for acknowledging it.

Recommend 0

Umair

Jun 08, 2016 04:34pm

O yes! Issue is not the people who kill their daughters in 'honour killing' but Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy who raised her voice on international forum.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Jun 08, 2016 04:44pm

@Voice of Reason : All of this is right only on paper but, disobedience and rejection of parents' rights by the children are creating such ugly and insane incidents. We must have proper education, upbringing and right counselling of our children at right times, for nipping such evils in the bud.

Recommend 0

wajeeha ghori

Jun 08, 2016 05:15pm

that happens in punjab and interior sindh.

Recommend 0

Voice of Reason

Jun 08, 2016 05:16pm

@M.Saeed - I disagree. As a parent of 2, all I can do is teach my children what I believe is right or wrong BUT I understand their views will be different to mine, just as my beliefs are different to my parents - that is life, otherwise we would never progress. Under no circumstances, whatever my children do, could I hurt them - now that would be the greatest evil on earth.

Recommend 0

ADD (Canada)

Jun 08, 2016 05:21pm

where is humanity gone? Imagine a 1000 women going through this each year and no effort by the gov't to do anything about it. What's wrong with this society? Swift action and capital punishment is needed. Not clemency?

Recommend 0

Tired of the stupidity

Jun 08, 2016 05:27pm

What a sick twisted culture of death...there is no honor in these brutal murders

Recommend 0

Vinod Narang

Jun 08, 2016 06:02pm

A young and beautiful life wasted because of ignorance and fake prestige. How can a mother be so cruel it's beyond me. RIP dear

Recommend 0

Masood

Jun 08, 2016 06:10pm

No wonder the population is moving out in droves. Who wants to live in a hell-hole where people are shot for mobile phones and girls are murdered for trying to live a decent life.

Recommend 0

Singh

Jun 08, 2016 06:15pm

Sorry young lady, have no words but, everyone has lost his/her mind.

Recommend 0

N_Saq

Jun 08, 2016 06:23pm

Once the kid reaches the legal age (i.e. 18 years), he/she becomes an adult and his/her actions should not have any bearing on the parents whatsoever. This concept of blaming the whole family for ones action instead of the person who committed the act in Pak society is the reason for the thought that one needs to defend family honor because the rationale behind such actions is that what the people will say now, the whole family name is now ruined and everyone in the family is/will be looked down upon now. If somehow Pak society can be educated to the fact that do not blame or hold hostage the whole family for ones action then and only then things will begin to change.

Recommend 0

kash

Jun 08, 2016 06:26pm

@Junaid Agree 100%

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Jun 08, 2016 06:35pm

This is a lesson for all girls out there. If you are bold enough to run and elope, then do not give in to your parents please to come back. They will harm you. Accept it.

Recommend 0

Mansoor Khan

Jun 08, 2016 06:52pm

Such incidents keep happening because the law and our leaders tolerate it. The law must be toughened, be clear and be applied strictly. A segment of our society needs to come out of darkness. These acts by some ignorants are shameful and are an embarrassment to the whole country.

Recommend 0

Ahsan Gul

Jun 08, 2016 06:56pm

Our religious clerics, mullahas and imams have to take a stand on this particular issue. They need to explain to our public that, our prophet has said that "a woman can marry of her own choice". Public needs to hear from religious leaders and not from the government. It is permissible in islam for a young girl to marry a man she likes. There is no shame or disrespect for the family. I don't know why our clerics don't say anything about it.

Recommend 0

aha

Jun 08, 2016 07:08pm

Really sad. Young people are emotional. Sometimes they do things at a whim. They need to be guided and helped, and always forgiven.

Recommend 0

RAK

Jun 08, 2016 07:32pm

There's no need for women's protection bill?!

Recommend 0

N_Saq

Jun 08, 2016 07:42pm

@Ahsan Gul Wrong, my friend. Please keep religion and the so called Mullahs/religious scholars out of it. The need of the hour is promulgation of correct laws and then strengthening the laws and their enforcement. Please do not give undue importance to these Mullahs as they are not above the law. The Mullahs are already out of control and it just gives them a big head. Fight to force the government to invest in education, parliament to enact correct laws, the judiciary to enforce the laws and police to implement the laws. Take advantage of the power of vote and punish those representative who do not uphold the law

Recommend 0

Param

Jun 08, 2016 07:49pm

Uneducated people. They please their relatives more than own family.

Recommend 0

Krishnan

Jun 08, 2016 07:51pm

@Joshi Very nice comments Mr. Joshi.

Recommend 0

Saadah Gul Khan

Jun 08, 2016 08:07pm

Signs of a slowly morally sinking society.

Recommend 0

hanifsmile

Jun 08, 2016 08:11pm

What do you expect, when government is not willing to spend money on education. We are going to the lowest era of our times. People are turning into animals

Recommend 0

I know nothing

Jun 08, 2016 08:21pm

Do we know the full story before blaming the mother? What if she is trying to protect the son who is missing? The truth is not fully told yet.

Recommend 0

SICK OF VIOLENCE

Jun 08, 2016 08:25pm

That's what happens when women are treated as possessions and not human beings.

Recommend 0

saeeds

Jun 08, 2016 08:53pm

@Ali jee where are the people family friend neighbor who are closed to these people. Enough stop critisizing politicians. The way you jump on blaming politician seem like you are group of people who saw something bad happening instead of stoping you let it happened so you curse government. Play your part be responsible citizen

Recommend 0

Salil Chowdhury

Jun 08, 2016 09:15pm

A mother sacrifices her life for her children, but the case is reverse here. How such a primitive society prevailing in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Naeem

Jun 08, 2016 09:17pm

My head hangs in shame.

Recommend 0

Salil Chowdhury

Jun 08, 2016 09:26pm

@Ahsan Gul " I don't know why our clerics don't say anything about it." - clerics? they are the problem not the solution. The country's degeneration is because of these half knowledge clerics. Did you not see what CII recommends?

Recommend 0

Ady

Jun 08, 2016 10:00pm

Is this for real? In what world these people are living in. They need to be educated and guided. Very Sad indeed.

Recommend 0

TechnoKraft

Jun 08, 2016 10:28pm

And what was the loser husband doing? Watching his new bride burn to death?

Recommend 0

shoukat sheikh

Jun 08, 2016 10:35pm

welcome to secularism. This is what happens when society is not ready for secular ideas but external sources keep pushing un Islamic culture down their throat.

Recommend 0

Fazal Karim

Jun 08, 2016 10:48pm

We need over hauling of religious and social concepts which can come through secular education. Political and social news these days are depressive beyond limit.

Recommend 0

Javed

Jun 08, 2016 11:03pm

There certainly was no paradise under this mother's feet.

Recommend 0

Faraz

Jun 08, 2016 11:46pm

Medieval behaviour. Civil authorities should put more pressure in Education and civil rights.

Recommend 0

Samad Chaudhry London

Jun 09, 2016 12:25am

By the way our Mullahs have no say in it for they declaring women being the property of MEN

Recommend 0

Jason

Jun 09, 2016 12:48am

A mother setting her own daughter on fire...

Recommend 0

AdHawk

Jun 09, 2016 01:55am

Hard to imagine a mother doing this. Where's the son is what I want to know.

Recommend 0

AdHawk

Jun 09, 2016 01:58am

Nearly a thousand women honor-killed! And that's just the recorded numbers. Extrapolate that back to the country's early years and we have a proper genocide.

Recommend 0

AdHawk

Jun 09, 2016 01:58am

It takes guts to love in this God-forsaken country.

Recommend 0

Ahmer

Jun 09, 2016 02:02am

@Mahmood but shouldn't the feminist come out against their own when they commit such heinous crimes?

Recommend 0

Myview

Jun 09, 2016 03:09am

A society where a six year old girl is considered fit enough to marry( a sixty year old guy) but an 18 year old girl cannot dare to choose her life partner!

Recommend 0

ASC

Jun 09, 2016 03:23am

Till women get economic freedom, they are, and will be treated as cattle. This is true all over the world, In any society. Only a person standing on his/her feet or able to when needed, will not let anyone treat themselves as someone's property. As percentage of working women rise, these atrocities go down. The girl was probably treated as a property since she was born. The property was merely disposed off when it got defective. This would be the mindset in the house.

Recommend 0

illawarrior

Jun 09, 2016 07:03am

When will such people realise that they do not own their children? A parent's job is to love, nurture, provide for, and educate their children, until they reach maturity, and are capable of making their own decisions. .

Recommend 0

Noshin

Jun 09, 2016 03:26pm

The biggest injustice to such terrible incidents is to name them"Honour Killing" they should be called as murder and treated like a murder case... The word "honour" is a cause of concern and may appease the slaughterer...

Recommend 0

Iftikhar Husain

Jun 09, 2016 04:53pm

It is disgusting what happens in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Uma Krishnan

Jun 10, 2016 02:12am

On Children - Khalil Gibran Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.