MUZAFFARGARH: Police arrested on Saturday a man who had allegedly set his two daughters ablaze to avenge the forcible dissolution of his second marriage.

District Police Officer Mohammad Hassan Iqbal told a press conference on Saturday that some two weeks back, [suspect] Hafiz Abdul Hameed called 15, saying some men, led by Fida Hissain, attacked his house in Leshariwala locality, held him and his wife hostage and set his four children ablaze.

Their two daughters Urwa (2) and Uswa succumbed to their burns on the spot while two others suffered injuries and were shifted to the DHQ hospital for treatment.

Some months back, the DPO said, Hameed had contracted a second marriage with Fida’s daughter. Fida through a punchayat managed divorce. Hameed nurtured a grudge and staged a drama of attack by Fida and his men.

The DPO said a team investigated the case and found that Hameed himself put his children on fire.

He said Hameed told investigators that he wanted to implicate Fida in a murder case and remarry his (Fida) daughter.

He said police had [earlier] registered a case against Fida and three others under sections 302, 148, 149, 324 and 436 of PPC and Anti-Terrorism Act (7-ATA).

He said now a case was registered against Hameed under the same provisions.

The DPO has announced Rs100,000 prize for the police team.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2021