A woman in Thatta was subjected to extreme violence and torture by her husband and brother-in-law after she visited her parents without first obtaining permission from her husband.
The incident took place in the Chhatto Keho village of Thatta district and was reported on Wednesday after the victim, 40-year-old Zahida Keho, was found dumped in a field.
The woman's father, Zahid Keho, told [The Friday Times] that the 40-year-old had visited them. But when she returned, her husband and brother-in-law allegedly tortured her for two consecutive days. As a result of the torture, both the arms of the woman were broken while her legs had deep stab wounds. The torture caused the woman's condition to deteriorate to such an extent that her husband and brother-in-law took her for dead. At that point, they dumped her in a ditch outside the village.
However, a few villagers noticed Keho lying in the ditch in quite poor condition. They informed her parents and rushed her to the hospital.
Doctors at the hospital found that both her arms had been broken while her legs had been pierced with a sharp weapon.
Zahid alleged that the suspects enjoy the patronage of an influential local political figure and are threatening him and his daughter with dire consequences if he continues to pursue the case. Despite this, he spoke out against the atrocity and sought justice for his daughter.
He decided to lodge a formal complaint with the police. Initially, the police refused to lodge an FIR, but amid mounting public pressure, Ghulamullah police station SHO finally registered a case under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) 1860.
The police have managed to arrest the husband of the victim.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence and the need for greater protection for women in rural Sindh. The police's initial inaction in this case is also a cause for concern and raises questions about their commitment to upholding the law and protecting vulnerable citizens.