MULTAN : A young woman was recovering in hospital Friday after she was burned over nearly half her body by a man she had refused to marry, police said.

Sonia Bibi, 20, told police from her hospital bed that her former lover Latif Ahmed sprinkled her with petrol and set her alight after she turned down his proposal.

A doctor in Multan's main Nishtar hospital confirmed to AFP that 45 to 50 percent of Bibi's body had been burnt in the attack, but said she was out of danger.

The incident took place in a remote village of Multan district in central Punjab, and police have arrested 24-year-old Ahmed, local police official Jamshaid Hayat told AFP.

“Police arrested the man after recording the statement of Sonia Bibi in the presence of her parents,” Hayat said.

“The girl told us that she was in love with Latif, whom she accused of dousing her in gasoline and setting her alight,” Hayat said.

Police have launched a probe, he said, but preliminary investigations suggested Latif had set Bibi on fire “after she refused to marry him”.

Mukhtar Cheema, another police official in Multan confirmed the incident, saying that Bibi had told police she had turned Ahmed down as she was no longer in love with him.

Opinion

Editorial

China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...
United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.