BAHAWALNAGAR: The case of a recent attack on a man took an unusual turn when the perpetrator turned out to be the girl he was alleged to have an affair with instead of the people he had accused.

On Nov 17, Kashif was set on fire by sprinkling petrol on him while he was asleep at home in village 303 HR in Marot. Police said Kashif had accused brothers Yaseen and Ramzan.

Marot Station House Officer Mushtaq Bajwa claimed that a year and a half ago, Kashif had eloped with a married woman and gone to Karachi.

The woman’s husband, Yaseen, had lodged a case against Kashif and later on the intervention of a local panchayat, returned the woman to her husband.

However, the officer said the case against Kashif was not quashed and on Sept 28, the woman recorded her statement in favour of Kashif and the abduction charge on him was dropped. At this Yaseen divorced his wife and she started living with Kashif.

The woman wanted Kashif to marry her but he wanted to send her to Darul Aman, the SHO claimed.

On Nov 17 when Kashif was sleeping, the woman set him on fire and fled from the scene. On hearing his screams, neighbours shifted him to hospital and his life was saved.

In his statement to police, Kashif had nominated Yaseen and his brother, Ramzan. The SHO said that during investigation, the woman had confessed to the crime.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2019