Survivor of Honour killing attempt appeals for protection

LAHORE-

A woman who survived an murder attempt by relatives for marrying for love said on Friday that she feared for her life and appealed for protection.

Saba Maqsood, 18, survived being shot and thrown into a canal by her family on Thursday, weeks after the “honour killing” of another woman in the country drew worldwide condemnation.

Ms Maqsood angered her family by marrying the man of her choice a few days ago in Gujranwala.

“Even though police provided me with security, I fear that my family will try to kill me and my husband,” Ms Maqsood, still weak after being shot twice in the cheek and right hand, told a foreign news agency by telephone from her hospital bed.

“I appeal to the chief minister and authorities to take serious notice of this attack on me and take necessary action for our security.”

Police said Ms Maqsood was attacked and shot by her father, uncle, brother and aunt, and thrown into the waterway in Hafizabad on Thursday. Her relatives quickly fled the scene, but after minutes in the water she regained consciousness and managed to struggle to the bank, where two passers-by helped her.

Police have pledged to protect her. “We have moved Saba to a private room in the hospital and deployed female and male police officers for her security,” said regional police officer Ali Akbar.

“I have contacted her husband Qaiser but he is reluctant to come to the hospital because he is afraid of being attacked.”

Ms Maqsood’s home was raided but all the suspects appear to have vanished, police said.

Last month, a Pakistani woman called Farzana Iqbal was attacked and killed by suspected family members because she had married the man she loved.

The case drew intense global attention, including condemnation from the United Nations, partly because it happened in broad daylight in the center of the city of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital.