April 01, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

KHAIRPUR, March 31: Rubi Begum, niece of legendary singer Iqbal Begum alias Baali, wife of former Khairpur state ruler, Mir Ali Nawaz Naz, has said that she was attacked several times to force her to relinquish her share of property left by her aunt.

Talking to journalists here on Monday, she said that she had been was attacked by a group of armed men near Mill Colony Khairpur on Sunday evening but the assailants escaped as her guards opened fire in defence.

She said that recent attack was a part of pressure tactics to force her to give up her share. However, she said that she was not afraid of these cowardly attacks and appealed the district administration to provide her security.

The legendary singer Iqbal Begum alias Baali hailed from Lahore.

The art loving ruler of the then Khairpur state Mir Ali Nawaz Naz had married her after falling in love with her.

Their relationship, with many turns and twists like the episode of Baali’s becoming angry with her husband and leaving Khairpur to be followed by Mir Ali Nawaz Naz’s proceeding to Lahore in the garb of a Faqir (mystic), has attained the status of a popular love story.