Honour killings: Man shoots wife for ‘talking’ to his relative

“First I killed Habibullah. Then I killed my wife,” says husband, unaware that his wife had survived the shooting and was recovering at Rajanpur DHQ hospital.

RAJANPUR: Two people were killed and another was critically injured on Monday in ‘honour’ crimes in Rajanpur.

Basti Chachar resident Hafeezullah shot his wife, Parveen Bibi, 17, and relative, Habibullah, suspecting them of having illicit relations.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hafeezullah said, “I had been following Habibullah after I saw him leaving my home in my absence. I caught my wife, Parveen, talking to him. His relationship to me does not matter. My wife need not talk to my relatives.”

“First I killed Habibullah. Then I killed my wife,” he said, unaware that his wife had survived the shooting and was recovering at Rajanpur DHQ hospital.

DHQ hospital Medical Superintendent Sultan Laghari said, “Parveen Bibi is out of danger but we will keep her at the hospital for a week and monitor her recovery.”

He said she had been shot twice in the abdomen and once in her leg.

Habibullah’s brother Abdul Hameed filed a complaint against three people, including Hafizullah and Parveen’s father Sadiq on charges of murder.

Rajanpur SHO Talib Babar said, “The main accused has been arrested but two others are still at large. They will be arrested soon.”

Habibullah’s body was handed over to relatives after post mortem.

In another incident, Noor Bhari, 20, a resident of Shah Wali, was slaughtered by her brother-in-law Shakal Khan for having ‘loose morals.’

According to the DHQ hospital post mortem report, her legs and then her arms were chopped before she was killed. Her upper body was thrown near the canal while her limbs were buried under a shrub close by. Police recovered these when her husband Hameed Khan led them to the place.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hameed said his brother, Shakal Khan, had told him to keep his wife at home and accused her loose morals. He said that he had seen Shakal Khan leave from the place were the body was recovered.

Noor Bhari’s brother Shah Meer has filed a complaint against Shakal Khan. The accused had not been arrested by the time this report was filed.

Investigating Officer Shamsher Ali said the accused will be arrested soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2012.