LAHORE: Roohi Bano, a versatile actress of yesteryear, was injured by the friend of her slain son, when she refused to sell him her Gulberg house on Monday.

Gulberg police have arrested suspect Khurrum Shehzad allegedly involved in attacking and injuring Roohi Bano.

Ali, the only son of Roohi Bano, was shot dead around a decade ago.

“Khurrum, a friend of Roohi’s son Ali, had been visiting her for a couple of months pressing her to sell her house to him,” Roohi’s sister Robina Yasmeen told Dawn.

Shehzad visited Roohi on Monday only to be snubbed by her who asked him to never visit her again.

“This infuriated Khurrum who attacked Roohi with a sharp-edged weapon inflicting injuries on the head and an ear,” said Yasmeen.

Ms Roohi was taken to Services Hospital where she was stated to be out of danger.

Gulberg Station House Officer Asim Rafi said they had arrested Khurrum for criminal intimidation. He said Khurrum was a neighbour of Roohi.

Throughout her life, Roohi has been traveling in a roller coaster that mostly tread path full of hard and uneven pebbles. Be it was the death of her young son or her treatment at the Fountain House, her over all distressed life veiled her with constant sadness. Last but not the least, the actress met a physical attack by her slain son’s friend.

The Pakistan National Council of Arts some years ago also planned a documentary on the life and works of the troubled actress, once a household name for the PTV viewers, but the project could not be executed.

Roohi is leading a reclusive life in Lahore. Among the best acting talents that the country has produced, she was admitted to the Fountain House in 2005 for treatment of schizophrenia.

The chief minister took notice of the incident and sought report from the deputy inspector general.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play