Sharmila Farooqi

Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser Sharmila Farooqui has said that the increase in incidents of setting women on fire is extremely alarming.It is most imperative that the culprits be brought to justice as soon as possible. This is particularly urgent in order to curb the trend of setting women ablaze and protecting the women from being subjected to cruelty by husbands, said Farooqui, while talking to Daily Times during her visit to Civil Hospital, Karachi’s Burns Ward to see a burns victim, Saima.
Farooqui said that Saima’s former husband, Nadeem, who has been recently released from jail after three years imprisonment, went to Saima’s house and tried to forcefully take her with him. However, when she refused to do so, Nadeem poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.She has suffered burns to 65 percent of her body and doctors say that her chances of survival are not very high. She has a 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. If Saima dies, her children will suffer greatly, hence, philanthropists of the city should come forward and take the children into their custody.I have also dispatched a formal letter to the Sindh chief minister to aid Saima and talked to police officials for prompt arrest of the accused, she said.
Meanwhile, Saima, who had gained consciousness, appealed to the Sindh government and City District Government Karachi and philanthropists to adopt her children, saying that if they are not adopted, their futures will be destroyed.