Woman ‘Burned Alive’ After Domestic Row

News Desk

Rawalpindi: The death of 40-year-old Shazia Farooq after suffering severe burn injuries has raised fresh questions about how suspected cases of domestic violence are identified and investigated, after what was initially described as an accidental fire was later registered as a murder case.

Shazia was taken to hospital after sustaining critical burns in Quaid-e-Azam Colony. Her family was initially told that the injuries resulted from a compressor explosion. Her children, however, disputed that account and approached police, alleging that she had been deliberately set on fire following a dispute over household expenses.

Their complaint prompted investigators to examine the scene more closely.

According to police, the kitchen and rooms showed no significant signs of an explosion, while burn marks were concentrated around the entrance area. Investigators also reportedly found traces of petrol, raising suspicion that the incident may have been deliberate rather than accidental.

Shazia’s son, Shabbir Bhatti, accused his aunt, Hajra Adeel, of setting his mother on fire after an argument. Police have detained one suspect, while raids are reportedly being conducted to arrest the main accused.

After Shazia succumbed to her injuries, police added Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code to the first information report, formally bringing murder charges into the case.

The question behind the case

Beyond the allegations against the suspects, Shazia’s death has highlighted a recurring challenge in cases involving violence inside homes: distinguishing genuine accidents from incidents that may have been deliberately concealed.

Cases involving burns are sometimes initially attributed to kitchen accidents, gas leaks or cylinder explosions, making the circumstances surrounding the injury crucial to any investigation.

In Shazia’s case, her children’s decision to challenge the initial account became a turning point. Their allegations prompted authorities to reconsider what had happened and examine physical evidence from the scene.

Neighbours who reached the location reportedly told investigators that Shazia had faced threats earlier in the day following an argument, adding another element to the allegations.

A wider concern

Women’s rights advocates have long raised concerns about domestic violence and the vulnerability of women within households, particularly where economic dependence, social pressure and family disputes prevent victims from seeking help.

Rights groups have also warned that some cases of violence against women may remain hidden behind explanations involving household accidents, making independent investigation and forensic examination particularly important.

For advocates, the Rawalpindi case demonstrates why the circumstances surrounding serious burn injuries should be carefully examined rather than automatically classified as accidental.

Awaiting forensic findings

Shazia’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, while forensic and medical reports are expected to help establish the circumstances and cause of her death.

Police have ordered further action in the case as investigators continue efforts to establish what happened.

For Shazia’s children, the central issue is no longer simply how their mother died, but whether the circumstances surrounding her death were deliberately misrepresented.

The case now awaits forensic findings and further investigation, which will determine whether the allegations of murder can be substantiated in court.

Input from Express Tribune and Minute Mirror.