Pakistan: Woman held captive by brothers for 10 years

By Nasir Aijaz
AsiaN Correspondent

Islamabad: Police in Hafizabad town of Punjab province on Friday rescued a woman from a house where she had been held captive in a small room for almost ten years.

The woman, identified as Naila Bibi, was kept captive in the house by two of her brothers over an inheritance dispute, according to reports. One of the brothers of the rescued woman has been arrested.

The brothers of Naila Bibi only fed her once a week and did not clean her room. When she was rescued by police, the bed she used to sleep was covered with her own excrement.

Naila Bibi was cleaned up with the help of a neighbour and sent to the hospital for medical check-up. She appeared to be suffering from significant physical and psychological trauma due to the captivity.

Ijaz Alam, Punjab Human Rights Minister who was present at the time of the raid, said the victim would be given the best possible medical care while the culprits would be given a severe punishment.