MULTAN: A woman committed suicide on Monday by jumping into a canal in Khanewal along with her two-month-old daughter after she discovered about her husband’s second marriage, police said. The bodies are yet to be recovered.
Police said Aasiya Bibi had married Muhammad Shafiq, a resident of 67/15-L, two years ago. The couple had had a baby girl in June.
On Monday, police said, Aasiya Bibi found out through a neighbour that Shafiq had married another woman three days ago in the nearby Wajhianwala village.
Police quoted Aasiya Bibi’s parents as saying that she had asked Shafiq to divorce his second wife, but he had refused, saying that he could afford to keep both of them.
This had led to an argument that ended in him leaving the house.
Her parents said she thought he had abandoned her. They said she had called them and informed them about Shafiq’s second marriage.
They said, “She was crying and cursing her fate. We tried to calm her down and told her to wait for him to return. We asked her to be patient for the sake of the baby.”
They said they had also asked her to come over to their house for a few days. They said they assured her that they would talk to Shafiq to find a way out.
A few hours later, they said, they were informed that she had jumped into Mailsi Link Canal taking her daughter with her.
Some passers-by who had seen her jump had informed the police about it.
Rescue 1122 officials have been looking for the bodies without any success.
Shafiq was detained by the police for a few hours, but later released after questioning.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.