LAHORE – Police investigating a controversial alleged honour killing in Bahawalpur say it was not a case of suicide as claimed by the dead woman’s family.
The case hit the headlines because of a statement by PM Yousuf Raza Gilani that the woman was electrocuted following a decision by a local village council. Police say it was not “a simple suicide” as the postmortem examination showed signs of torture on her body. They say that the woman ran away from her village about six weeks ago.
Saima Bibi left with a neighbour from her village with whom she had fallen in love, police official Afzal Lodhi told reporters. Her relatives believed she had brought shame on the family, he said. The postmortem report in the city of Bahawalpur, which the BBC has seen, says there were blisters and superficial burn marks on the young woman’s body. Further tests are being carried out to determine the cause of the injuries.
Saima’s body ‘showed signs of torture’
