ISLAMABAD: A 28-year-old woman and mother of an 11-month-old baby, who was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and father-in-law on June 8, succumbed to her injuries at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Thursday.

The woman, Sania Bibi, had married Aadil Mehmood almost two years ago but later developed differences with her husband and his family, according to her counsel.

Advocate High Court Munir Ahmed, who has been representing the deceased since the incident, reached Pims and spoke to media persons about the case.

While talking to Dawn, he claimed that the woman was set ablaze by her husband and father-in-law on the second day of Eid.

“They doused her in petrol and tried to set her on fire. However, she managed to run out of the house, after which the husband and father-in-law dragged her back inside and set her ablaze,” he said.

Later, Sania was shifted to Pims. On the other hand, both accused claimed that she was injured due to a gas cylinder blast.

“As the family of the deceased contacted me, I filed an application on behalf of the deceased’s brother at Kirpa police station, as the incident took place in Gora Mast village, which falls within its jurisdiction. Police arrested both the husband and father-in-law, and they are now in Adiala Jail,” he said.

Replying to a question, Advocate Munir Ahmed said that over the past month he managed to have the statement of the deceased recorded under Section 164 before a magistrate. He also recorded video messages in which the deceased stated that her husband and father-in-law had set her on fire.

He said the deceased succumbed to her injuries at 9am on Thursday.

He added that a First Information Report (FIR) had been registered under Section 336-B, which pertains to the use of corrosive substances, along with a section on attempted murder.

“However, a new FIR will be registered under the section of murder, and I will also request the police and court to include ATA in the FIR, as the whole village was harassed by the incident,” Advocate Ahmed said.

Later, the body was shifted to Gora Mast village after an autopsy, where the burial was held.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2025