Woman killed in Sukkur after seeking court protection in alleged honour-related case

SUKKUR: A young woman who had earlier sought state protection after accusing her husband of trying to kill her was found dead in Sukkur district in what police described as an apparent honour-related incident.

The victim was identified as Gulaan Buharo, a mother of two children. She had previously left her husband’s home after alleging that he had attempted to murder her. Following her complaint, police arranged for her to stay at a shelter home in Sukkur for her safety.

On April 24, however, she went to her parents’ home after recording her statement before a court. In that statement, she formally told the court that her husband, Moula Bux Buharo, was a serious threat to her life and that she feared being sent back to him.

She also told the court that she wanted to remain in the custody of her father, Imdad Buharo, and did not wish to return to the shelter home. Police officials later said her father had assured authorities that he would protect her.

Earlier complaint and police action

A video recorded at Jhangru police station showed marks of violence on Gulaan Buharo’s face and hands after she had earlier complained that she survived an alleged attack by her husband.

Despite those earlier protective steps, her body was recovered on Sunday and shifted to Rohri taluka hospital on Monday.

Police have taken her husband into custody. However, no first information report had been registered until the filing of this article.

Questions over protection mechanisms

The killing has again drawn attention to the risks faced by women who seek protection in domestic violence cases and to the implementation of safeguards in apparent honour-related crimes.

The case involved a woman who had already approached the authorities, obtained shelter through police intervention, and placed her fears on record before a court. In her court statement, she specifically said that her husband posed a threat to her life and that she did not want to be sent back to him.

Police officials, had relied on an assurance from her father that she would remain safe in his care after she chose to leave the shelter home and stay with her family.

Her death has now raised renewed concern over how effectively such protection arrangements are enforced once a complainant leaves a state-run shelter and returns to relatives after court proceedings.

The investigation was still at an early stage at the time of writing, with the husband in custody and the FIR yet to be registered.