LAHORE: A man allegedly set his wife on fire over domestic and financial issues in Kahna area here on Friday.

The 35-year-old victim, Naila, a mother of five, succumbed to her critical burns on the spot, while the suspect, Zubair, fled the scene. The incident occurred in a private housing society where the family had been living for the last couple of years.

A police official said as per initial findings, Zubair had been facing some financial issues due to joblessness and had a strained relationship with his wife.

Some days ago, Zubair shifted his children to their maternal grandparents’ house, he said.

On Friday, the official said, the husband and wife exchanged words over some issue and had a scuffle following which the suspect doused Naila with petrol and set her on fire.

The neighbours rushed to their house on hearing Naila’s screams and alerted the Rescue 1122 and the police as well, he said. However, the woman succumbed to her burns before being rescued, he added.

The police shifted the dead body to the city morgue for an autopsy and dispatched a team for the arrest of the alleged killer.

Meanwhile, the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) took notice of the incident and directed the Model Town superintendent of police (SP) to submit a report in this regard.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2021