Uncle, 3 others arrested in Pakistan honour killing case

Pakistani police probing the brutal murder of a pregnant woman, 25, stoned to death in a case of honour killing arrested four men, including her uncle on Friday.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given a 24-hour deadline to police to round up all those involved in the killing of Farzana who was murdered outside the Lahore High court on May 27 for marrying the man of her choice. “We have arrested an uncle and three cousins of Farzana Parveen and raids are underway to arrest her two brothers,” Lahore police spokesman Niyab Haider said, adding, “We are trying hard to meet the deadline given to Lahore police by CM Shahbaz Sharif to arrest all the accused in the case within 24 hours.”

The police have inserted Anti-Terrorism Act sections in the First Information Report on the direction of CM Shahbaz, who was on Thursday ordered by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to take immediate action against the killers.

The number of arrests in the case now reached five, as Farzana’s father had already been detained. Farzana, who was three months pregnant, had gone to the court to testify in defence of her husband Muhammad Iqbal, 45, accused of kidnapping her and forcing her to marry him. She was attacked outside the Lahore High Court by nearly 20 members of her family, including her father and brothers, with sticks and bricks.

Farzana died on the spot after suffering critical head wounds while Iqbal managed to escape.

Meanwhile, in a new twist to the case, Iqbal has admitted to the police that he had killed his first wife because of his love for Farzana. Lahore Investigation Wing head Zulfiqar Hamid said Iqbal had murdered his first wife six years ago. His son who was the complainant in the case later pardoned him. 

Image: Pakistan police collect evidence near the body of Farzana Iqbal, who was killed by family members near the Lahore High Court building on Tuesday. Photograph: Mohammad Tahir\Reuters