BAHAWALNAGAR: A man was arrested on Sunday on charges of torturing his wife for bringing inadequate dowry and aborting her pregnancy in order to marry again.

The FIR registered with the A Division Police alleged that Sidra Saleem of Faisal Colony married her cousin, Muhammad Arshad, seven months back. Her family gave her dowry according to their means but her husband and in-laws used to taunt and torture her over it. When Sidra got pregnant two months ago, Arshad’s sister Javeria, a certified nurse, allegedly administered her injection at home to terminate the pregnancy. Arshad’s family told Sidra that they would bring a new bride who would bring better electric appliances and devices as her dowry. It went on to say that on Jan 15, Sidra’s husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law tortured her and threw her out of the house. Later, her maternal aunt admitted her to the DHQ Hospital. She is still undergoing treatment at the hospital.

It is worth mentioning that the police took action after a video of the woman lying in the DHQ Hospital giving a statement against her in-laws made rounds on social media.

FINE: The deputy commissioner has fined a parking contractor of the DHQ Hospital following complaints about excessive fees imposed by the parking stand.

According to the officials, DC Bahawalnagar Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhoon paid a surprise visit to the DHQ Hospital to inquire about the problems of the patients. Meanwhile, several patients and their attendants complained to the DC about the cycle stand staff’s aggressive behaviour and charging more than the allowed fees.

The DC found the complaints against the stand staffers to be valid and fined the stand contractor Rs200,000.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2026