She was doused in petrol and set on fire allegedly by her mother and brother
Lahore: A teenaged Pakistani girl was yesterday doused in petrol and then burnt alive here allegedly by her mother and brother for marrying a man of her choice, in the latest case of ‘honour-killings’ in the country.
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Locals stand at the site where Zeenat was burnt alive Pic/AFP
Zeenat (18) died on the spot, police said. “We have arrested the mother of Zeenat and are looking for her brother for allegedly setting her on fire,” said Lahore police spokesman Nayyab Haider. He said Zeenat’s mother Parveen told the police in custody that her daughter had committed an ‘unforgivable’ crime by marrying a man after eloping with him.
“Although Parveen confessed to her crime, she denied the involvement of her son,” Haider said. Zeenat reportedly fell in love with Hasan, who lived in her locality, and asked her parents to accept his marriage proposal.
However, her parents refused following which, Zeenat eloped with Hasan and married him in court. Zeenat had contacted Parveen a few days ago seeking her forgiveness and Parveen said she should return to seek their blessings. “Today, when Zeenat reached her parents’ house, first she was tortured by her mother and a brother and then they doused petrol on her setting her alight,” he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed Lahore police chief Amin Wains to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
800 The women killed in honour killings in Punjab last year according to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.