MIANWALI, July 6: An 18-year-old girl, who survived an “honour killing attempt” on Wednesday, is fighting for life at the surgical ward of the District Headquarters Hospital. Zaitoon, who belongs to Tura Baz Town in suburbs of Mianwali city, was attacked allegedly by her elder brother after she refused to marry a man chosen for her by her family. She suffered nearly one dozen dagger blows on her chest and abdomen and doctors removed her damaged kidney and liver with no hopes for her survival.

Women attending Zaitoon at the hospital told Dawn “this is our family dispute and we will resolve it within the family therefore we did not go to the police.”

According to the wife of accused Barkat Ali, Zaitoon was engaged to her brother in exchange, but she refused to marry him. She said that no male member of the family had yet come to the hospital to see Zaitoon because they were “ashamed” of her. She said some God-fearing people were helping in Zaitoon’s treatment.

It was also learnt that Ali’s wife had incited him against Zaitoon after she refused to marry her brother in exchange. She told Ali that Zaitoon had loose morals. On this, Ali attacked his sister with a dagger and injured her critically.

Zaitoon was taken to the hospital by Ali’s wife and another woman of her family, where she was operated upon. Zaitoon’s family is too poor to bear hospital expenses and Dr Rana Hafeez is bearing these expenses. Dr Hafeez said Zaitoon was critical, but doctors were trying to save her life.