NAROWAL: Two brothers were burnt to death in a fire at their home in the Samanabad Ringpura area of Sialkot city on Tuesday.

According to reports, Muhammad Akram had fallen asleep while smoking at night and the burning cigarette caused the fire in the room. The smoke from the fire filled other rooms of the house, as well.

Akram (35) and his brother Ali Raza (32) were burnt to death. However, Sehrish Rizwan (35), her two children, Shahrooz and Amiya, and a family member, identified as Adnan, were rescued.

They were given first aid and were shifted to a hospital in Sialkot.

District Emergency Officer Naveed Iqbal said four members of the family were rescued in the timely action; however, they could not save the brothers whose bodies were completely burnt.

SHOT DEAD: A widow was shot dead allegedly by her in-laws over property at village Karol on the outskirts of Sialkot.

Rubina Kausar (45) was returning to her home from her mother’s house when three motorcyclists opened fire on her and killed her on the spot.

Rubina’s brother Ehsan Elahi said his sister’s husband, Qaiser Mahmood, had died five months ago and her in-laws wanted to seize her property. He alleged that Rubina was killed by her in-laws for refusing to leave her property.

The Kotli Police Station registered a first information report against six suspects, including Shahzeb, on the complaint of Elahi.

Khurram Shehzad Malik, the spokesperson for the district police, said the district police officer had formed a team, headed by SP Investigation Farooq Amjad, for the arrest of the suspects.

Saddar circle ASP Khurram Mahesar and SHO Kotli Syed Amir have started investigation into the murder.

ACID ATTACK: A 12-year-old girl was burnt in the acid attack over a family dispute.

Abdul Rauf, a resident of Agoki Town, district Sialkot, said a resident of tehsil Depalpur, Okara, got involved in an argument while talking to his nephews on telephone. He alleged his nephews threatened to kill him.

He said he and other family members were not at home when his nephews, Israr and Bilal, came from Depalpur, threw acid on his 12-year-old granddaughter, Ayesha Farooq, and fled.

Rauf said one side of the child’s face and neck was burnt due to acid and she was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

The Agoki Police Station registered an FIR against the suspects.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022