A local court in Toba Tek Singh Case, Punjab, has announced its court verdict, sentencing a father and his son to death sentence and imposing a fine of one million rupees each for the Maria Bibi murder, a tragic case of honor killing. Her brother killed Maria Bibi in March last year. Meanwhile, the victim's sister-in-law and elder brother have been acquitted, highlighting the complexities of legal proceedings in such family crime cases. The court stated in its judicial ruling that honor killings are deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions and remain a pressing issue in the justice system. It is worth noting that after a viral murder video surfaced last year, the police investigation led to the arrest of the victim’s father and brother, with cases registered against them. The three-minute strangulation incident video showed a man strangling a woman while two other individuals, including a woman, were present at the scene, further strengthening the prosecution’s case. According to the police, the incident occurred in March last year in Chak 477 JB Case village. Based on intelligence reports, the police swiftly took action and filed a murder case on their behalf, ensuring that justice was served.
The court verdict of District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hafeez Bhutta stated in its legal ruling that the victim was murdered by her father and brother. Both were found guilty in this honor killing judgment, while the other brother and sister-in-law were acquitted with honor. The judicial decision highlighted that “the presence of the father during the murder of his daughter by her brother indicates family collusion, and the father offering water to his son after this horrifying act further aggravates the gravity of the crime.” The court further stated that although the father did not directly participate in the criminal conviction, he was present at the crime scene when it happened. “He did not try to stop his son from committing the crime, nor did he discourage others from intervening, such as the victim’s elder brother and sister-in-law, who have now been acquitted.” According to the murder case ruling, the father's statement, “She is my daughter, and I know what to do with her,” was a clear approval of the murder. The sentencing details further revealed that the father’s acknowledgment of his authority over his daughter and his act of offering water to his guilty son after the murder reflect shared intent in crime. The court emphasized that “any leniency in such shocking crimes could have severe legal consequences for society at large and normalize violence against women.” It was also stated that as the guardian’s responsibility, the father was supposed to ensure his daughter’s safety, yet he failed to fulfill this religious and social duty. The justice system further ruled that honor killings cannot be justified under the pretense of pre-planned crime, as they are often carefully executed. It was declared that punishment for honor killing must be strict and perpetrators must face the full force of the law.
The Incident Timeline reveals that the Toba Tek Singh police registered the case of this Honour Killing Incident on March 24 last year, based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Ahmad Raza. The Murder Details indicate that the Fatal Attack took place on March 17. According to the Police Report, the FIR (First Information Report) stated that a police informant revealed the Crime Scene details, indicating that the accused had strangled his 22-year-old sister to death and buried her body, making it a Planned Murder. The Sequence of Events described in the FIR suggests that the residents were aware of the Shocking Crime, but no one reported it to the authorities or spoke about it. SSP Ibadat Nisar disclosed that an attempt was made to hide the crime from law enforcement. Following the Violent Crime, the family fabricated a false cause of death, announcing in the mosque that the victim had died of cholera, and proceeded with the burial the same night. He further stated that those who recorded the video of the Victim’s Last Moments, along with those who carried out the Killing Motive, had collectively tried to cover up the evidence. Due to this, the FIR also included charges of concealing evidence and tampering with witnesses. The DPO (District Police Officer) mentioned that, upon the police’s request, the court granted special permission for an autopsy. The Crime Investigation revealed crucial Evidence and Witnesses, further strengthening the case against the accused. The forensic examination confirmed that the family dispute led to the honor killing, exposing the tragic reality of such deeply ingrained patriarchal mindsets. This case underscores the urgent need for stricter laws against honor killings and improved mechanisms for protecting victims of family violence. The legal proceedings serve as a critical reminder that justice must prevail in cases of violent crimes that target vulnerable individuals.
According to the DPO, the investigation on scientific grounds did not prove that the murdered woman was sexually assaulted.
The Sadar Police Station, Toba Tek Singh confirmed that after the case was registered and the post-mortem was conducted, another brother of the victim also submitted a legal complaint to the police, demanding an autopsy for his deceased sister. In his official complaint, he accused the suspects of sexual abuse claims, alleging that she had confided in the complainant’s wife about the repeated assaults. According to the eyewitness account documented in the police report, during the night of March 17–18, the complainant was sleeping in a room with his family when he heard his sister’s screams. When he rushed outside, he witnessed his father and brother engaging in family violence, having tied the victim’s hands and feet to a charpoy (traditional bed). The murder accusation further stated that the complainant’s brother forcibly pressed a pillow against the victim’s face, suffocating her to death. After committing the crime, the suspects fled the scene. The complainant revealed that the suspects had issued death threats, warning that if he spoke about the honor killing case, they would kill his children. Out of fear, he remained silent. The next day, the complainant informed two individuals about the shocking revelations, and together, they confronted the suspects. At that point, both the father and brother admitted to the crime confession and begged for forgiveness. Regarding the motive behind the crime, the complainant alleged that his father and brother had been sexually assaulting his sister for some time, and the victim’s last words to his wife exposed this horrifying truth. This police investigation update highlights the need for strict legal action against honor killings, violence against women, and family-based crimes to ensure justice for the victim.
DPO Toba Tek Singh, Ibadat Nisar, stated that one of the victim’s brothers had alleged that their father and another brother had subjected the victim to rape and sexual violence. However, the postmortem report findings and medical examination did not support these claims. The autopsy results revealed no signs of sexual violence, and the forensic evidence collected during the investigation provided no proof of such abuse. The cause of death was confirmed to be strangulation, as determined by the DNA test report and scientific investigation conducted by forensic experts. The physical injuries assessment did not indicate any marks consistent with sexual violence, reinforcing the conclusion of no evidence of sexual assault. Following the exhumation report, the police and forensic teams reassessed the case, ultimately determining that the crime was an honor killing evidence rather than an act of sexual violence. The strangulation confirmation in the legal forensic analysis further supported this conclusion. The medical report's conclusion ruled out sexual assault and established that the victim had been strangled. Based on these findings, the police investigation outcome confirmed that the case was an honor killing, and the authorities were set to present the charge sheet in court.