Woman 'set ablaze by in-laws' dies at Nishtar Hospital Multan

LAHORE: A 28-year-old newly married woman who suffered severe burns at her home in Jatoi tehsil died at Nishtar Hospital in Multan on Monday, while police continued investigating the circumstances of the incident amid conflicting accounts.

The woman, identified as Fouzia, had sustained critical burn injuries at her house two days earlier under mysterious circumstances. Rescue 1122 and police shifted her to the burns unit at Nishtar Hospital on Sunday afternoon for treatment, but she succumbed to her injuries on Monday morning.

According to hospital doctors, she had suffered 80 per cent burns.

FIR names three in-laws

According to the first information report registered by Jatoi police, Fouzia had been married around four months ago and was living with her in-laws because her husband worked at a factory in Sialkot.

The FIR states that three of her in-laws — her brother-in-law Niaz, Altaf and Fyaz — allegedly poured petrol on her and set her on fire after a domestic dispute. Police said the suspects had been arrested and that an investigation had been launched.

Initial inquiry points to different version

However, a senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that initial findings suggested the incident appeared to be a case of suicide. According to the official, the woman allegedly set herself on fire after sprinkling petrol on her body following a domestic dispute.

The same official said the Rescue 1122 team that responded to the case had also treated it as an attempted suicide.

The differing versions mean the case remains under investigation, with the FIR alleging that the woman was set ablaze by her in-laws while the initial inquiry cited by the senior police official points to self-immolation.

Punjab Women Protection Authority seeks report

Earlier, Punjab Women Protection Authority Chairperson Hina Parvaiz Butt took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Muzaffargarh district police officer.

She directed the DPO to ensure a merit-based investigation and to arrest the suspects. She also said those involved in the incident should not be shown leniency and should be made an example.

The case has drawn official attention because of the serious nature of the allegations and the woman’s death after suffering extensive burns. Police are examining the incident in light of both the allegations contained in the FIR and the version cited by the senior police official regarding the initial investigation.