A Pakistani Anti-Terrorist Court has sent the relatives, including two brothers and former husband of a pregnant woman who was stoned to death here by her family members for marrying against their wishes, into police custody for seven days.
Farzana Parveen, 25, was battered to death in the name of honour on May 27 outside the Lahore High Court by a mob, which included her numerous relatives, armed with bricks and sticks. Zahid and Mustafa, brothers of Parveen, her former
husband Mazhar, two cousins and an uncle were presented before the ATC yesterday by the Lahore police, who sought their
14-day remand.
The Judge, however, granted their 7-day remand. He also directed the police to produce a complete investigation report
of the case on the next hearing on June 12. Parveen’s father Mohammad Azeem is already in custody. On May 27, Parveen – a resident of Nankana Sahib district about 80 kilometres from Lahore – was going to the Lahore High Court along with her husband Muhammad Iqbal, 45, when her father, two brothers and some other relatives attacked them.
Parveen, who was three months’ pregnant, died on the spot while Iqbal escaped unhurt. The killing sparked outrage because of its brazen and brutal nature and claims that police did nothing to save her. The police are yet to produce seven more accused in the case before the court despite their arrest a few days ago.
Meanwhile, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umer Aata Bandial directed Lahore police chief Chaudhry Shafique to submit a report about action taken against the policemen who failed to protect Parveen from the mob.Shafique told the court that four out of the six suspects and nine out of the 20 unidentified ones in the murder case has been arrested.
He said investigation of the case would be completed shortly and the challan would be submitted to the trial court
within the prescribed period. Punjab acting advocate general Mustafa Ramday said administrative proceedings were on to fix responsibility why the police failed to protect the woman. Parveen married Iqbal – also a resident of Nankana- a few months ago. Her family had accused Iqbal of kidnapping her. Iqbal had himself killed his first wife some six years
ago but was freed from jail after his son, the complainant in the case, pardoned him. PTI