Islamabad: A 19-year-old newly-wed woman was allegedly burnt alive by her husband in an honour killing in Pakistan's Punjab province, police reported on Wednesday.

The victim, Saba Iqbal, was killed by her husband, Ali Raza, in Bahawalnagar, approximately 400 kilometres from Lahore, on July 28. Raza suspected that his wife was having an affair, according to police statements. Saba and Raza had married in a court ceremony about eight months ago. "Soon after the marriage, Raza began suspecting that Saba was in a relationship with someone else," police said.

Muhammad Iqbal, Saba's father, recounted that Raza called him on July 28 to inform him that Saba had left home after a quarrel and had been missing since then. Iqbal and other family members rushed to Raza’s house and began searching for her. The next day, Saba’s burnt body was discovered in a field, according to her father. Police arrested Raza, who confessed to the crime. They revealed that Raza had brutally tortured Saba on the day of the incident before burning her alive and then dumping her charred body in the field.

"In his confession, Raza said he killed Saba after learning that she had relations with someone outside his locality," police reported. A murder case has been registered against Raza and two unidentified suspects. Human rights activists estimate that around 1,000 women are murdered annually in Pakistan in honour killings.

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