Pakistan PM seeks report on woman's death

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday asked the Punjab government for a report about a woman who was stoned to death in front of the Lahore High Court (LHC), a media report said Thursday.

Farzana Parveen, 25, on her way to attend a hearing in the LHC, was attacked by her three brothers on Tuesday. They started to throw bricks at her.

According to the authorities, Farzana had decided to marry a man of her choice against her family's wishes a year ago, and the couple had to flee from their hometown of Jaranwala, about 100 km south of Lahore.

Farzana, who was also pregnant, succumbed to her injuries as some of the bricks had hit her head.

Sharif asked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, his brother, to submit a report on the incident by Thursday evening, Dawn online reported.

Sharif condemned the incident and said that those involved should be severely punished.

So-called "honour crimes" are very common in South Asia and usually involve a male of the family avenging a perceived affront that contravenes the conservative family morals of the local society.

In Pakistan, these murders cost the lives of two to three women everyday.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 869 lives were lost last year in such killings. There were also many cases which go unregistered.