Pakistan Gender News Voice of Gender News From Pakistan
Karachi-A young couple was shot dead allegedly by a brother of the woman in what appeared to be an act of honour killing in the Boat Basin police limits on Sunday morning.
Bushra, 20, and Rafaqat, 22, were shot dead inside a house in Neelam Colony in the Boat Basin police limits.
According to police, the deceased had been residing in the said area for the past several years and during this period they fell in love and decided to marry. However, their families refused the marriage proposal.
The couple finally decided to leave their families and perform court marriage. They had also submitted an application at the court concerned and they tied the knot a week ago.
Bushra had fled her house and had been living with Rafaqat for a week. On Sunday morning, her elder brother Sohrab traced their whereabouts and broke into Rafaqat’s house. After a hot argument with the couple, Sohrab shot them dead and fled.
Neighbours shifted them to hospital where both were pronounced dead. Both received multiple bullet wounds on their bodies. Rafaqat was a labourer by profession and hailed from Okara, while Bushra hailed from the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province. A case has been registered and investigation is under way.
Hundreds of women, mostly from poor families, become victim of honour killings every year. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has reported that nearly 650 women were murdered under the pretext of honour killing in 2009.
Source: The News
Date:1/24/2011
