At least seven people of a family including four children and two women were burnt to death after fire swept away in a house in the Pir Jahanian area of Muzaffargarh city on Sunday.
Rescue workers recovered the bodies of four children, ages ranging from two month to 12 years old, and a 35-year-old woman and other 19 year old woman from the debris of the dwelling in Pir Jehanian village a suburb of Muzaffargarh .The police said that according to heirs, Mehboob and Fauzia Bibi, both residents of the house, had contracted a free will (Love) marriage 18 months ago .
They alleged that the fire was an act of arson committed by Mehboob's in-laws. Evidence has been gathered from the scene, including an empty bottle of petrol.
A case will be registered after the post-mortem of the bodies.
According to Assistant Commissioner Dr. Abida Farid told that Rescue 1122 received a call at 0115 am that a dwelling caught fire .Then rescue team reached at site and it put out the fire. It was a hovel type home and fire erupted in a "Chhapper" (A straws roof) which spread within no time due to heavy wind. The cause of fire could not not be ascertained. Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh has ordered an inquiry into the incident describing it a tragedy. Those whose bodies were found identified as Muhammad Nawaz son of Faiz Bakhsh (65),Khurshid Mai wife of Farooq (35),Fauzia wife of Kala Khan(19) Shah Nawaz son of Farooq (12) his brother Sarfraz (10) Yaquob 2.5 and an infant of Kala Khan. Fortunately Kala Khan was in Multan to earn livelihood. He was survived.The rescuers shifted the bodies to a local hospital for completing legal formalities. The police have started an investigation into the incident.
Adviser to Punjab CM Abdul Hayi Dasti expressed sorrow over the tragic incident. He said that the Punjab government will provide legal and financial aid to the heirs of the victims.