Man’s ears, nose cut off in ‘honour’ crime

ARMED men cut off the ears and nose of a Pakistani man who married one of their tribe for love after he and his family refused to hand over his wife, police said yesterday.

The attackers also chopped the ears off the man’s brother and severed his mother’s hand in the latest “honour” crime to hit Pakistan’s conservative rural areas.

Such crimes, including killings, are common in areas where marriages without the consent of girls’ families are still taboo under centuries-old tribal and feudal traditions.

Mohammad Iqbal’s wife, Shehnaz, was not at home when about 15 members of her clan attacked in the central city of Multan on Tuesday, demanding she be turned over.

“The assailants, armed with small arms, daggers and axes, tortured Iqbal,” said Naeem ul-Hassan, a deputy superintendent of police.

“They dragged us on the floor and thrashed us before cutting our limbs,” Mohammad Yasin, Mr Iqbal’s brother said from Nishtar hospital, where he was being treated along with his brother and mother.

Shehnaz married Mr Iqbal last year and the couple left Multan along with Mr Iqbal’s family apparently for fear of reprisals.

The family returned to Multan recently to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Adha.

Police have arrested five suspects, Mr ul-Hassan said.