Woman ‘Burned Alive’ After Domestic Row in Rawalpindi

News Desk

Rawalpindi: The tragic death of 40-year-old Shazia Farooq, who was allegedly set on fire by her sister-in-law in Quaid-e-Azam Colony, has once again cast a spotlight on the pervasive and often hidden scourge of domestic violence in Pakistan.

Shazia was rushed to hospital with severe burns after what was initially reported as a compressor explosion. But her son, Shabbir Bhatti, and daughter, Dr. Nimra, challenged that version, filing a complaint that led to the case being reclassified as murder. Shabbir accused his aunt, Hajra Adeel, of deliberately setting his mother ablaze following a quarrel over household expenses.

“The kitchen was intact, the rooms untouched. Only the entrance area showed burn marks,” investigators confirmed, adding that petrol traces were found, pointing to a deliberate act.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani has ordered strict action, with one suspect already in custody and raids underway to arrest the principal accused. Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code has now been added to the FIR after Shazia succumbed to her injuries.

From “Accidents” to Accountability

Police initially listed the incident as an accidental fire—a common narrative in cases of domestic violence. Women’s rights groups note that many victims of “kitchen accidents” or “cylinder blasts” are, in fact, casualties of abuse that goes unreported or is deliberately covered up by families.

Neighbours who rushed to the scene said Shazia had been threatened earlier that day after an argument, lending weight to her children’s testimonies.

A Systemic Problem

Shazia’s death adds to the grim statistics of violence against women in Pakistan, where patriarchal norms, economic dependency, and weak legal protections leave many women vulnerable. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), hundreds of women die each year in so-called accidents inside their homes, cases that often fail to make it to court.

Activists argue that the Dhamial case reflects systemic failings—delayed investigations, attempts to mislead police, and lack of immediate protection for victims.

“The tragedy is not just Shazia’s death but how close it came to being dismissed as an accident,” one Rawalpindi-based women’s rights lawyer said. “Without her children’s persistence, the case may have been buried.”

Awaiting Justice

Shazia’s body has been sent for post-mortem, with forensic and medical reports expected to confirm the exact cause of death. For her children, justice will mean ensuring their mother’s story is not written off as another domestic mishap.

As Pakistan debates stronger protections against domestic violence, Shazia’s case underscores how deep-rooted family disputes can escalate into fatal violence—and how critical it is for authorities to treat every “accidental fire” with suspicion.

Input from Express Tribune and Minute Mirror.