LAHORE: The government has provided financial aid, both in cash and kind, to a woman, who remained wrongly imprisoned for 19 years over the murder of her husband.

Rani Bibi of Midh Ranjha in Sargodha district, a victim of child marriage, was arrested at the age of 13 on false charge of killing her husband. Her parents and brother were also imprisoned in the case as they were the last people seen with her husband.

Bibi spent around 19 years in prison for a crime she did not commit as the Lahore High Court set her free, apologising to her, saying it ‘feels helpless in compensating her’ for the series of errors on the part of prisons department in denying her access to justice.

The tragic story of her ordeal was published in this paper on April 17. Taking notice of her miserable condition, Pakistan Baitul Maal managing director Aun Abbasi traced Bibi and recommended financial aid for her as she fights for getting compensation for the years she wrongly served in jail.

She was given a cheque for Rs60,000, a washing machine, a gas cylinder with a burner, two charpoys and bed-sets, blankets, ration, three ladies suits and two for men.

Rani Bibi, with the help of a legal advocacy group, has filed a petition to demand the Punjab government pay compensation for the “miscarriage of justice”.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2020