Eight dead as ‘mentally unstable’ woman sets house on fire in Baldia Town

• Survivor tells police that his mother — whom he alleges was mentally unstable — set house on fire

KARACHI: Eight including children were burnt to death alive when a ‘mentally unstable’ mother set her house on fire on Sunday night in Malang Goth, Baldia Town.

According to initial police investigation, the father of children named Ali Buksh had left for work whereas his wife, Gulzara Bibi, and eight children were at home when the tragedy happened.

Ali Buksh had locked the door from outside due to which the victims were not able to save themselves. As a result, the woman and her four children were burnt to death on the spot while other four children were taken to the Burns Ward of Civil Hospital where two more succumbed to their injuries.

The remaining two children were admitted to hospital for medical treatment.

However, Sajid —Gulzara Bibi’s wounded son — said in a video interview given to the police that the fire was not an accident and was started by the mother of the deceased children, who, herself, passed away as well.

Gulzara Bibi was mentally unfit, Sajid noted, adding that she was receiving medical treatment for “her condition” for the past two years. He said he was sleeping in his room when the blaze enveloped the house.