An accounts group probationer was found burned to death in her hostel room at the Audit and Accounts Training Institute in Gulberg on Wednesday.
Police declared the death as self-immolation in the light of initial investigation and evidences collected from the crime scene. However, the family and colleagues ruled out the possibility of suicide.
Nabiha Chaudhry, 27, of Karachi, was engulfed in flames when the hostel staff and other trainee officers broke into her room.
Crimes Investigation Agency Superintendent of Police Umar Virk told reporters it was premature to establish the cause of fire. He said the circumstances at the crime scene suggested the woman committed suicide and a bottle of petrol was found in the room. He said a peon had provided the petrol to the victim on her request on Wednesday.
Other women officers told reporters Nabiha was religious minded and had strong willpower.
Victim’s mother Seemi Saleem told Dawn by phone that Nabiha spoke to her around 2pm on Wednesday and she was normal in her conversation. She said there was no domestic dispute with her daughter.
Ms Saleem suffered a second tragedy in her life. Her husband, Dr Saleem Chaudhry, the principal of Dawood Engineering College, was murdered by the activists of a political party in Karachi. He was honoured with Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
