Relatives arrested after woman stoned to death in Pakistan

The family of a pregnant Pakistani woman who was beaten and stoned to death in broad daylight accused her husband of killing her.

Police said Farzana Iqbal, 25, was murdered by assailants including her own father because she had married a man of her own choosing instead of the one they've selected for her.

But Farzana's elder sister said it was Iqbal who had killed her.

"Muhammed Iqbal and his accomplices killed Farzana, and her father and the rest of her family were wrongly accused of murder," Khalida Bibi told reporters in the city of Lahore.

Mohammed Iqbal admitted to local media that he killed his first wife over a dispute. Iqbal's children later forgave him and the case was withdrawn.

Read: Pakistan stoning victim's husband 'killed first wife'

The son of a man whose pregnant wife was stoned to death by her family in Pakistan told the Associated Press (AP) his father killed his first wife over a dispute.

Aurang Zeb, one of Mohammed Iqbal's five children, claimed his father was arrested after he killed his mother in 2009.

Iqbal's children later forgave him and the case was withdrawn, he added.

Asked about the reports, Iqbal told AP he could not speak because he was praying at his second wife's grave.

Read: Relatives arrested after woman stoned to death in Pakistan

The husband of a pregnant woman who was stoned to death by her family in Pakistan reportedly killed his first wife four years ago.

Mohammed Iqbal told local media he and his wife Farzana Parveen went to the high court in Lahore to contest a criminal complaint filed by his father-in-law when she was attacked.

Police have since told the Associated Press that Iqbal was arrested over the October 2009 killing of his first wife, Ayesha Bibi.

The case was withdrawn after a family member forgave him, they added.

Under Pakistani law, those charged with a slaying can see their criminal case dropped if family members of the deceased forgive them or accept so-called offerings over the crime.

Read: Relatives arrested after woman stabbed to death in Pakistan

Police in Pakistan have arrested at least four relatives of a woman who was stoned to death for marrying a man her parents did not approve of, ITV News has been told.

Farzana Parveen was attacked in broad daylight in front of the high court in Lahore.

Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered the chief minister of Punjab province to take "immediate action" after a 25-year-old woman was stoned to death for marrying a man her parents did not approve of.

Mr Sharif told the BBC the killing was "totally unacceptable".

Last night the husband of Farzana Parveen, told ITV News police stood by and did not help when she was attacked by her family, outside a courthouse in Lahore.

Read: Husband of Lahore women stoned to death describes grief

This morning Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was appalled at the death, and called on authorities in Pakistan to investigate this "atrocious murder fully and bring those responsible to justice."

The Government has condemned the killing of a pregnant woman by her own family in Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "shocked and appalled" at the stoning to death of Farzana Parveen, whose family were in opposition to her choice of husband.

Police said nearly 20 members of her family attacked her in broad daylight before a crowd of onlookers, in front of the high court of Lahore.

Mr Hague said there is "absolutely no honour in honour killings" and called on the Pakistani authorities to "investigate this atrocious murder fully and bring those responsible to justice".

The husband of a woman stoned in Lahore has said he simply took her to the court to get married because they "were in love".

Mohammad Iqbal 45, told Associated Press he started dating Farzana Parveen after the death of his first wife.

He alleges the woman's family wanted to fleece money from him before marrying her off.

Police official Naseem Butt said that Ms Parveen, 25, married Mr Iqbal to whom she had been engaged to for years, in opposition to her family.

Police officials said Ms Parveen's father surrendered after the incident and called it an "honour killing".

More: Woman stoned in Pakistan 'for marrying man she loved'

A woman in Lahore, who was stoned to death outside of a court in a so-called "honour" killing, contested an abduction case brought against her husband before her death.

Her lawyer Mustafa Kharal said her father had filed the case against her husband specifically, because he was not chosen by the family to marry.

Arranged marriages are the norm among conservative Pakistanis, who view marriage for love as a transgression.

Her father, two brothers and former fiance were among the attackers outside the court, police said.

Iqbal suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Around 1,000 Pakistani women are killed every year by their families in honour killings, according to Pakistani rights group the Aurat Foundation.

More: Woman 'stoned to death by family' in Pakistan

A woman has been stoned to death in Pakistan by up to 20 members of her family for marrying the man she loved, police and lawyers said.

Farzana Parveen, 25, had married Mohammad Iqbal, to whom she had been engaged for years in opposition to her family, police official Naseem Butt said.

The woman's family attacked her and her husband with sticks and bricks in broad daylight before a crowd of onlookers in front of the high court of Lahore.