MIANWALI, July 1: A young woman was shot dead by her husband and mother-in-law over a trivial issue after she had spent a life of trials and tribulations. The girl was exposed to mental torture first when her father had divorced her mother in order to marry another girl.

The man struck a deal in exchange of his daughter whom he forced to marry his new wife's brother. Eventually, her husband and mother-in-law allegedly tortured her and later shot her dead when she started meeting her mother covertly.

Reports said Sahib Khan, a resident of Jano Khel village, had divorced his wife Bashiran Bibi over some trivial issue, but kept with him his daughter Farzana Bibi, 16. Wishing to contract a second marriage, he offered Abdul Wahid Khan his daughter in exchange of his sister Anaran Bibi, who was hardly 19.

However, Farzana Bibi was not allowed to meet her mother by her in-laws after which she started meeting her secretly. Two weeks ago, her husband and mother-in-law Manzooran Bibi tortured her and later shot dead her.

Wahid, in league with the deceased's father, buried the woman without conducting postmortem. Wahid's relative Alam Khan, a police constable, allegedly facilitated them in burial. Later, they claimed that Farzana had committed suicide.

The councillor, who had washed the body of Farzana, confirmed bruises on her body. The deceased's mother first approached police for registration of a case but on their reluctance, she met the judicial magistrate to order postmortem. The court fixed June 21 for the postmortem, but it could not be carried out because the rival party obtained a stay from the sessions court.

Meanwhile, Bashiran Bibi went to Prof Ziaullah Khan, chairman of an NGO, for help. The NGO appealed to the district and sessions judge to fix date for the postmortem. Accordingly, Dr Khalida Nusrat conducted the postmortem of the girl on June 29 in the presence of the judicial magistrate, Paikhel SHO and HRCP district president Khalilur Rahman advocate.

The doctor submitted on Thursday the report, stating that the gun was fired from a close range. She could not identify torture marks because the body was deteriorated. Paikhel police have registered a case against the suspects and are further investigating.