Police in Okara have arrested two suspects in the Okara woman case, in which a woman was allegedly tortured and electrocuted to death by her husband. The case came to light only when burn blisters were found on her feet while her body was being prepared for burial.
The victim, identified as Misbah, was a mother of two. Police say her husband, Tanveer, tied her to a cot and subjected her to electric shocks at their home in Ahmed Nagar, within the jurisdiction of Cantt police station in Okara. He allegedly acted with the help of his sister, his brother-in-law and his nephew.
Her in-laws had tried to portray her death as natural. The burn blisters on her feet, noticed during preparations for burial, raised suspicions about the circumstances of her death. Her mother, Faizun Nisa, then alerted the police.
According to Okara DPO spokesperson Irfan Sandhu Jutt, who spoke to The Express Tribune, Cantt police received information that Misbah’s sudden death was not natural and that she had allegedly been killed by her husband in collusion with his relatives. When police reached the scene, Tanveer had fled.
Taking notice of the incident, DPO Dr Asad Ijaz Malhi directed Cantt police to arrest all those involved and ensure they were brought to justice. Acting on scientific evidence, police arrested Tanveer and his brother-in-law, Asghar. Raids are under way to apprehend the remaining suspects.
The Okara woman case so far
A case has been registered on the complaint of the victim’s mother against four nominated suspects and three unidentified suspects. Misbah’s body was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Police say the findings of the autopsy will help establish the exact cause and circumstances of her death. The arrests so far cover the main suspect and one relative. The other nominated suspects, including the husband’s sister and nephew, are still being sought.
The case rests on two points of evidence: the mother’s complaint, which set the investigation in motion, and the physical evidence found on the body, which contradicted the in-laws’ account of a natural death.
What happens next
The post-mortem report will shape the next steps in the investigation. It will confirm whether the death was caused by electric shock and whether there were other injuries consistent with torture.
Police will also need to trace the remaining suspects named in the case. Raids are continuing, and the arrested suspects will face questioning about the roles played by each person named in the complaint.
The case will then move through the courts, where the charge will depend on the post-mortem findings and the police evidence. Until the autopsy report is received, the exact cause of death remains for the medical findings to settle.
A different case from Bahawalnagar
This case is not the same as the electrocution reported from Bahawalnagar, where three members of a family died after being electrocuted. That incident was an accident. The Okara case, by contrast, is being treated as an alleged homicide, with arrests made and a criminal case registered.
The distinction matters for readers. Accidental electrocutions point to safety failures in wiring and power supply. An alleged killing by electric shock points to a crime, and it is investigated as one, with suspects, a complaint and a post-mortem.
Cases involving violence against women also reach the courts through other routes. The Lahore High Court has upheld maintenance for girls in a case brought by a British woman, and a National Assembly panel has called for a review of the workplace harassment law. Two suspects also died in Gujranwala after firing by their accomplices during a police encounter, a separate case that shows how police cases in Punjab can take different courses.
The Okara investigation is still at an early stage. The post-mortem findings and the arrest of the remaining suspects will decide how the case proceeds.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Okara?
A woman named Misbah, a mother of two, was allegedly tortured and electrocuted to death by her husband, Tanveer, with the help of his relatives, at their home in Ahmed Nagar, Okara.
Who has been arrested?
Police have arrested the main suspect, Tanveer, and his brother-in-law, Asghar. Raids are under way to arrest the remaining suspects.
How did the police learn about the alleged crime?
Burn blisters were found on the victim’s feet while her body was being prepared for burial. Her mother, Faizun Nisa, then alerted the police, who found the death was not natural.
What is the post-mortem for?
Misbah’s body was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for a post-mortem. Police say the findings will help establish the exact cause and circumstances of her death.
Is this the same as the Bahawalnagar electrocution?
No. Three members of a family were electrocuted in Bahawalnagar in an accident. The Okara case is being treated as an alleged homicide, with a criminal case registered and suspects arrested.
