GUJRAT: In yet another case of honour killing a girl died after being allegedly set ablaze by her maternal grandfather with the help of her three brothers and mother because she wanted to marry a man of her own choice.

The incident took place at Sook Kalan village in Sadar police precincts on Tuesday. The police have arrested all the suspects involved in the incident.

According to police, Mariya Bibi, daughter of Atif, was set ablaze by her maternal grandfather Siraj Din, with the help of her brothers — Arar, Abdul Rehman and Bilal — and her mother in their house at the village.

The girl sustained critical burns and was shifted to the Burn Unit of Kharian Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where she later died.

The police said father of the deceased girl had been living abroad.

As per initial police investigation, Mariya wanted to marry a man of her choice but her family was against the idea. Further investigation was under way.

As many as 10 women have so far been killed across the district, mostly in honour-related incidents in the 17 days of the month (April). Three of them were murdered in a single incident in Tibbi Gorian, a suburban locality, a few days back.

ACCIDENT: A man was killed and seven other passengers of a van were injured when a speeding car hit it along GT Road near Gakhari village of Sadar Lalamusa police area on Tuesday.

Reports said the car, which was overtaking a truck, hit the van from its rear side which resulted in the instant death of one Ghulam Rasool of Rehmatpura, Gujrat, whereas seven others, including six women of his family, were injured.

Police and Rescue 1122 reached the site and shifted the injured to hospital.

The car was being driven by Maj Zainul Abedin who was going to Islamabad from Sialkot whereas the people in the van belonged to Gujrat city. Police said the family of the deceased had declined to lodge a case.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2017