LAHORE – A mother of five, who was set ablaze by her in-laws around one week back in Allama Iqbal Town, died at Mayo Hospital on April 1, 2004.

Resident of 243-Nizam Block, Mohammad Boota along with his sister Kubra Bibi had sprinkled kerosene oil on his wife Rani Bibi, 40, and later set her ablaze around one week ago. She was admitted to the hospital with 75 per cent burn injuries.

Rani Bibi, in her initial statement, had informed the hospital authorities and the police that she received burn injuries incidentally in a stove explosion while she was preparing food for the family.

However, two days before her death, Rani Bibi recorded her statement with the police that “she was burnt to death by her husband and sister-in-law”.

The family sources said that the relations between Boota and Rani remained estranged for almost five years and she went back to the house of her parents in Pattoki. However, Boota and his sister Kubra reconciled with the family of Rani and brought her back around two weeks back. But reportedly relations between both the spouses became sore within few days and Boota and his sister set her ablaze and took her to the hospital where they tried to stage drama saying “Rani received burn injuries in stove-related incident”. Sources say that Kubra is woman of loose character and she had already burnt to death her husband with her paramour Mulazim Hussain a few years back.

“Kubra had expressed suspicion that Rani had illicit relations over which she connived with her brother Boota to kill her”, a family source said, adding that Kubra had been pressing Rani to step into the world of sin.

The Allama Iqbal Town police said that they were looking into the matter and accused will be punished in the light of investigation.

Source: The Nation

Date:4/2/2004