GUJRANWALA: Fears of violence against pregnant women have come to the centre of attention with a disturbing case from Gujranwala where her family learned from an ultrasound, she was pregnant with another daughter.

As per the FIR and reports published on Sept 29-30, the incident took place in Wapda Town in the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station. Amjad Javed, the father of the woman, said his daughter, identified as Urooj Amjad, was around five to six months pregnant when the family learned she was expecting a girl.

Her husband, Tayyab Manan, allegedly attacked her after she told him the reported sex of the unborn child, banging her head against the walls, the complaint says. Another report says the woman said her husband wanted her to have an abortion and allegedly kicked her in the stomach when she refused.

Within hours, the police acted upon the complaint and arrested Tayyab. Authorities said the allegations were being investigated, and involvement of other family members will be determined based on evidence.

There has also been a supposed CCTV recording, it allegedly shows Tayyab leaving the area with assistance from two relatives.

The arrested husband appeared before a judicial magistrate on Wednesday, and the case took another turn. The court allowed the police two days of physical remand to help the investigators recover evidence and complete the investigation, local reports said.

The woman had also undergone a medical examination, the results of which would be included in the investigation, police said. The authorities continue to investigate the allegations against other family members and determine their level of involvement based on the available evidence.

The accused’s family has reportedly denied the allegations, saying the case was due to a separate financial dispute between the two families. ‘This is an aspect that will also be looked at during the investigation,’ police said.

The investigation is ongoing, and the accused has not yet been convicted in a court of law of the allegations.

The case received attention because the alleged violence was purportedly linked to the sex of the unborn child, reviving fears about violence against women and attitudes toward daughters.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)