A woman in Khanewal killed her children, including a newborn, on Monday and swallowed poisonous tablets apparently following an argument with her husband. She was taken to Nishtar Hospital, where she was reported to be in critical condition.
The bodies of the children- Hassan, 4, Majida, 2, and five-day-old Rizwana- have been sent for post-mortem examination.
Police said that Rukhsana Bibi, 27, a resident of Kachha Khoo, had given birth to a daughter five days ago.
Her husband, Abid Hussain, told police that one of his cousins had died on Sunday.
He said that when he was leaving for the funeral, she insisted on joining him.
He said that he told her she should not step out of the house for at least 40 days following the birth.
He said that shortly after he had left home, a neighbour informed him that his wife had committed suicide.
He said he rushed back and found her lying on the floor and their three children lying unconscious on the bed.
He said that he took them to the Khanewal district headquarters hospital, where the children were pronounced dead. Rukhsana Bibi was sent to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
Doctors treating her said that she was in critical condition.
They said that the children had been poisoned through milk. They speculated that she was undergoing post-partum depression.
The neighbour who informed Hussain said that she had gone to see the newborn. She said that she had found Rukhsana Bibi lying on the floor, foaming at the mouth.
“There was a lot of vomit on the bed,” she said.
She said that she had immediately informed her husband and the Rescue service.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the regional police officer to personally supervise the investigation.
Police said that doctors had told them that she was not fit to record a statement.
Her husband, Abid Hussain, has filed a complaint against her under Section 302 (murder), police said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2013.