Nawabshah villagers deny burial to baby of "love marriage" couple

A couple who married by choice in Nawabshah had to go through a heartbreaking ordeal as residents of Waryam village refused to allow them to bury their four-month-old daughter in the local cemetery. 

Police intervention eventually secured the burial of the child, but the couple was forced to leave their home., according to sources.

Abdul Hameed Maher married his chosen partner in March 2023. This angered villagers, who convened a Jirga and banished the couple from Waryam village located in Qazi Ahmed taluka, district Shaheed Benazirabad.

The couple then relocated to Qazi Ahmed city. Four months ago, their daughter Noor was born, but her health soon deteriorated. 

Abdul Hameed rushed his wife and baby to Karachi, where doctors diagnosed Noor with critical brain fever. 

After spending the night at the hospital, the infant passed away the next morning.

The couple returned to their village to bury Noor in their ancestral cemetery, however, villagers and even some relatives did not allow it.

They protested upon encountering this inhumane treatment and held a press conference with their daughter's body. 

Abdul Hameed and his wife shared their story with the media and pleaded with authorities for intervention to bury their child in their ancestral graveyard.

Following the press conference, Jamal Shah police station intervened and sent the cops to escort the couple back to the village for the burial. 

According to Abdul Hameed, after the burial ceremony, villagers threatened to expel them from the village. Fearing further hostility, they returned to Qazi Ahmed city.