Authorities in Punjab province, Pakistan, on 31st July, reported that a 19-year-old newly wed girl was set ablaze by her husband in the name of ‘honour’. Saba Iqbal was murdered on 28th July in Bahawalnagar, around 400 kilometres from Lahore, by her husband Ali Raza, who believed his wife was having an extra-marital affair. The couple entered into a court marriage about eight months ago, per the police. Her body was discovered at Chak 50/4-R, Haroonabad, outside a gas station.
According to a First Information Report filed with the Haroonabad City Police Station, Saba Iqbal from Faqirwali willingly married Ali Raza from Habib Town. However, he began abusing her shortly after they got married, claiming she was involved in immoral activities. The accused told his in-laws on 28th July over the phone that she had fled the house during an argument with him out of rage, and had not been seen since. The deceased’s father, Muhammad Iqbal, said that he and family members immediately rushed to Ali Raza’s residence to search for their daughter. However, the following day, her burnt corpse was discovered in the field.
The official complaint revealed that Ali Raza admitted to burning his spouse alive. A complaint was submitted against him and two other unnamed accomplices. Police sources revealed that soon after the marriage, the culprit started to accuse the victim of having extramarital relationships. He severely assaulted her the day of the incident, burned her alive, and dumped the body in the field. The authorities mentioned, “In his confession, Raza said he killed Saba after knowing that she had relations with someone else outside his locality.”
According to police sources, he has been arrested and is undergoing further interrogation. He already confessed that he killed his wife for honour, and his sister and brother-in-law were also complicit in the crime. Human rights advocates say that about 1,000 women in Pakistan are killed each year in the name of honour.
