A father allegedly buried his newborn baby alive due to a lack of funds for her treatment in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze district, police reported on Sunday.
The incident came to light through social media, prompting the authorities to order the exhumation of the grave following court directives.
The tragic event occurred in the nearby village of Tharu Shah, Photorajpir.
The police have arrested the accused, Machar Rajpur, who has confessed to the crime. Rajpur stated that he already had two children, and this was his third child, who had been ill since birth and suffering from a blood deficiency.
Due to the unavailability of funds for treatment, he made the grave mistake of burying the baby alive.
After the arrest, the police took the accused to the gravesite, where he identified the location of the infant’s grave.
A case was registered against the suspect under sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offense, or giving false information to screen offender) and 302 (punishment of qatl-i-amd) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Meanwhile, in another tragic incident that shocked the community of Kabirwala, Abbas allegedly committed a brutal act of multiple murders, claiming the lives of his mother and three sisters in what appears to be an honour killing.
The incident unfolded in Okanwala, near Kabirwala, where Abbas reportedly used a firearm to fatally shoot his 45-year-old mother, Husna Bibi, and his sisters: 25-year-old Samina Bibi, 20-year-old Amna Bibi, and 18-year-old Haleema Bibi. Following the murders, Abbas fled the scene, leaving behind a scene of unimaginable devastation.
Local authorities swiftly responded to the incident, transporting the bodies to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The police have initiated a case and launched an intensive search operation to apprehend Abbas, who is now a fugitive wanted for these grievous crimes.
The tragic event underscores the persisting issue of honour killings in Pakistan, where individuals, particularly women, are targeted for perceived violations of societal norms or familial honour. These incidents reflect deep-seated social challenges and the urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms and societal education to prevent such violence and ensure justice for victims.
Efforts by law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations are crucial in addressing and combating gender-based violence and honour crimes. They play a pivotal role in advocating for victims’ rights, supporting affected families, and pursuing justice against perpetrators.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
