LAHORE, Jan 15: Ordered by their father, two brothers locked up six of their family members, including their mother, wives, and children, in a room before setting it on fire near Bhatta No II, Green Town, rescuers and police said.

However, timely intervention by neighbours and some acquaintances prevented any casualty as they called up emergency services.

Frequent domestic quarrels are said to be the cause of the incident.

The Rescue 1122 Ambulance and Fire Service said their personnel, after being informed of the incident, reached the spot and rescued those trapped inside the room, shifting them to Jinnah Hospital with burns.

The victims were identified as one-and-a-half year old Aamir Hamza, Mehak (3), Mah Noor (5), Ayesha (19), Shaheen (30), and Rafaqat (30).

Valuables worth Rs50,000 were reportedly gutted in the blaze.

Saddar division SP Rana Mansoorul Haq told Dawn that wife of Ashiq Jutt and her two daughters-in-laws would frequently quarrel with each other. On Thursday, they again had a quarrel which proved the limit for Ashiq who in a rage ordered his two sons to set all family members on fire and they obeyed.

He said the accused fled the scene immediately.
Source: Dawn
Date:1/16/2009