SAHIWAL: A shepherd allegedly died by suicide after receiving an electric shock at Chak 49/5-L on Tuesday, reportedly following a dispute over the handing over of his pet mare to relatives.

Reports said Mukhtar, 45, was a shepherd by profession and used to graze cattle in nearby fields. He had raised a mare with affection and was reportedly reluctant to part with it. However, his paternal relatives allegedly insisted on taking possession of the mare. Despite Mukhtar’s opposition, his parents handed the animal over to the relatives under pressure.

Distraught over the incident, Mukhtar allegedly climbed an electricity pole and touched live wires. He received a fatal electric shock and died on the spot.

Yusufwala police reached the scene and attempted to shift the body to a hospital for a post-mortem examination. However, the family and other relatives opposed the post-mortem and requested police to hand over the body after completing proceedings under Section 174 of PPC.

The family later allegedly intercepted a police vehicle at Mall Mandi Chowk using a tractor-trolley and blocked the road in protest against the police’s decision to conduct post-mortem.

The protesters reopened the road after being assured that judicial permission would be sought to waive the autopsy. On Wednesday, the family approached a judicial magistrate seeking exemption from the post-mortem. However, the court rejected their request.

Police conducted the post-mortem examination at the DHQ Hospital and handed the body over to the family.

SHOT DEAD: A class-VII student was allegedly shot dead in the name of “honour”, while a woman was tortured to death by her in-laws in separate incidents at villages 20/14-L and 39/14-L.

Aqsa Noor, a class-VII student and a resident of village 20/14-L, was shot dead allegedly by her uncle, Nazar Muhammad, and his two accomplices while she was asleep at around midnight.

Aqsa’s father Noor had passed away, leaving behind his widow, Pathani Bibi, and their daughter.

Police said her uncle allegedly began suspecting her character.

Acting on this suspicion, Nazar along with two accomplices, allegedly shot Aqsa dead.

Shahkot police registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s mother. However, none of the suspects had been arrested.

Police are also investigating whether a dispute over the distribution of hereditary land owned by the girl’s father was a possible motive behind the murder.

In another incident, Shaheena, of village 39/14-L, was allegedly tortured to death by her husband, Siddi Muhammad, brother-in-law Ali Akbar, and mother-in-law Begum Ali Muhammad.

According to the police, Shaheena was not allowed to meet her parents after marriage. Two days before the incident, she had reportedly insisted on visiting her seriously ill mother, but her in-laws refused to allow her to do so.

Police said the dispute over the matter escalated, after which her husband and other accused allegedly subjected her to severe torture, resulting in her death.

Kassowal police registered a case on the complaint of Shaheena’s brother Riaz. Police arrested Shaheena’s husband and brother-in-law.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2026