Newlywed teen dies after alleged torture by husband in Karachi

KARACHI: An 18-year-old woman died at her parents’ home in Surjani Town after allegedly suffering injuries inflicted by her husband, police said, while doctors were not allowed to conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said the body of Misbah Shaheryar, 18, was brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital on Tuesday from Saiful Marri Goth in Surjani Town. She said the body had injury marks on the head and other parts. However, the family took the body away for burial in the presence of police without permitting an autopsy, she added.

Misbah’s brother, Usman, told media that his sister had married Shaheryar of her own choice one week before Ramazan this year. He alleged that after the marriage, her in-laws began subjecting her to abuse because the family could not meet a demand for a motorcycle as dowry.

According to him, the husband later beat her after she found out that he had already married two women and did not work. Police said the suspect had falsely claimed to have a job in the police. Usman said their father had died and the family was too poor to arrange the motorcycle that had been demanded.

Surjani SHO Sohail Khaskheli told Dawn that the marriage was a love marriage and that Misbah had been living with her husband in a locality of Malir. He said differences later arose between the couple and she had recently returned to her parents’ house, where she died on Tuesday. The SHO added that doctors had not informed police of the cause of death.

Usman alleged that on Saturday his sister was severely beaten by her husband and then came back to the family home in Surjani Town. He said there were torture marks on her head. He further claimed that female relatives told the family there were also burn injuries on her private parts caused by burning wood.

He said the family approached Surjani police, but an FIR was not registered because they were told the matter fell within Malir district. He also alleged that the suspect was still threatening the family with serious consequences.