DERA GHAZI KHAN, July 20: On the direction of the Supreme Court, the Gaddai police have registered a murder case against two uncles and brother-in-law to a woman who died due to “complications after forced abortion”.

Police investigator Ghulam Asghar said Arfa Bibi, wife of Sabir Hussain Jindani, had developed illicit relations with his brother in-law, Murtaza, and got pregnant. He alleged that the woman’s uncles tortured her and forced her to go for abortion.

Following the surgery she had developed complications and died at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital on July 9.

The investigation officer said Murtaza confessed his crime.

The apex court took notice after newspapers published story about stoning of Arfa on the allegation of adultery. The police registered a murder case against Murtaza and the woman’s two uncles.

Riyaz Wadani, one of her uncles, earlier denied reports of stoning and claimed that she died due to complications at the Nishtar Hospital. Her mother corroborated the claim.

The district police initiated an inquiry and ruled out stoning decree by a local jury.

Senior police officer Rao Jamshed told the media that the three accused were in police custody and one of them had confessed to having illicit relations with the woman.

District Police Officer Dr Abid Khan told Dawn that the police had sought exhumation of Arfa’s body to ascertain signs of torture but her husband was opposing it. The court adjourned the case until July 23.