BAHAWALNAGAR: A young bride was allegedly stabbed to death by her father during her wedding ceremony on Monday night, for marrying a neighbour against his will at Chak 35, Fateh, Chishtian.

As per police sources, the victim, Sonia (18), a resident of Chak 35, Fateh, wanted to marry her neighbour Rehman.

Sonia’s family initially opposed the proposal, but on her insistence finally agreed to their marriage, after which their engagement was held a few days ago.

However, Sonia’s father Afzal kept opposing the marriage.

On Monday night, when the wedding was being held, Afzal stabbed Sonia repeatedly, leaving her dead on the spot.

The victim’s mother, Abida, has lodged a murder case at Chishtian Saddar police station on Tuesday against her husband, who had escaped after committing the crime.

However, a police spokesperson told Dawn that the suspect has been arrested while trying to flee the town and was being interrogated.

COPS SUSPENDED: The Bahawalpur regional police officer (RPO) on Tuesday suspended two more policemen, including the investigation officer (IO), from service over irregularities in a case of rape of a minor maid and forced abortion at Mandi Sadiq Ganj.

Earlier, on March 9, the RPO had suspended Mandi Sadiq Ganj SHO Majid Iqbal for delaying the registration of a case in which a landowner and his employee repeatedly raped a minor maid. When the girl got pregnant, the suspects forced her to have an abortion at Matwala village.

The victim’s family had accused the police of not only delaying the registration of the case after accepting bribes from the suspects, but also harassing the girl’s family to force them to reconcile with the perpetrators.

Taking notice of the complaint, the RPO suspended the investigation officer Sub-Inspector Sufyan and ASI Shahzad, directing them to report to his office.

Police sources say that the trio, including the SHO, was summoned to the RPO office on Wednesday (today) to face a probe.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025