Son testifies against father in Jhelum honour-killing case

JHELUM: An eye-witness for a doctor who was killed by her husband to protect his ‘honour’ has emerged. He happens to be her 14-year-old son.

In a statement recorded to the police, the son Ammar said that his father first fired in the air and then shot his mother dead. “I tried to stop him but he did not listen to me,” he said.

Police also recovered a pistol used in the crime.

Earlier, Ammar had told police that he asked his father to teach him how to use a pistol. He said that his father taught him to fire shots and one of them accidentally hit his mother.

On Wednesday, Shahbaz allegedly killed his wife Dr Uzma who practised medicine in Germany.

On a recent visit to Pakistan, Shahbaz brought his wife to Jhelum from her family's house in Kharian and killed her. He was planning to flee after the murder, and had also bought a ticket to travel abroad.

The couple had married 16 years ago. This was Dr. Uzma's second marriage; she had divorced her first husband and married Shahbaz, an investigation officer said.

Police is still investigating the matter.

Dr Uzma was laid to rest in Kharian on Wednesday. Police has detained Shahbaz and his friend.

In October this year, the parliament approved bills aimed at the prevention of honour-killings in the country, removing a loophole allowing killers to walk free after being pardoned by family members. The bill for the prevention of honour killings stated an honour killing convict would at least be handed life in prison.

In a similar incident earlier this year, a British Pakistani girl Samia Shahid was killed in Jhelum for marrying of her choice-- in the name of 'honour'.

Earlier this year, a Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch was also allegedly murdered by her brother in one such incident of honour killing. Her killing left many in shock and drew severe criticism of the authorities.