KARACHI: In a shocking development, the family of Fatima Furiro, a minor girl found dead under suspicious circumstances at the Haveli of the influential Pir of Ranipur last year, has reconciled with the main accused, Asad Shah Jeelani.
Adding to this, other eyewitnesses and close relatives of Fatima Furiro have also cleared all accused persons, including Asad Shah, his wife Hina Bibi, and his father-in-law Fayaz Shah, of any wrongdoing.
In affidavits submitted to the court, these individuals claimed that their previous statements to the police accusing the trio were false.
Fatima Furiro, a young housemaid, was discovered dead at Pir Asad Shah’s Haveli in August 2024.
Public outcry following media reports led to the arrest of Pir Asad Shah Jeelani, his wife, and father-in-law on charges of torturing the 10-year-old to death.
However, Fatima’s parents, Nadeem and Shabnam Furiro have since submitted affidavits to the Anti-Terrorism Court in Khairpur expressing no objection to the bail of the main accused Pir Asad Shah Jeelani.
Reports suggest this decision was influenced by a settlement between the parties. Despite this, Judge Mehboob Ali Jahaweri has opted to proceed with the trial.
Nadeem Furiro confirmed to The News that his family faced pressure from local notables to reconcile with the Pirs of Ranipur, leading to the submission of the affidavit in favour of Pir Asad.
The Furiro family are followers of the Pirs of Ranipur, and several young girls, including Fatima, worked as underpaid housemaids in the Pirs’ homes.
Following Fatima’s suspicious death and the initial autopsy report, the
Ranipur police filed a case against the accused under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code based on a complaint by the child’s mother.
Main accused Asad Shah denied killing Fatima, claiming she had died while being treated at his home for stomach pain.
Published in News Daily on 04-August-2024.
