Christian woman set on fire for refusing marriage proposal dies in Pak

A young Christian woman who was set on fire a week ago by a Muslim man for refusing to marry him today succumbed to her injuries at Lahore's Mayo Hospital in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The suspect has been arrested by the police.

"Asma Masih, 24, had critical burns. More than 80 per cent of her body had burns. Doctors tried their best to save her life but could not," said Dr Salman Kazmi of Mayo Hospital.

Asma, a maid, had been brought to Mayo Hospital after a Muslim man, Rizwan Gujjar, allegedly set her on fire after throwing acid on her face on April 17 in Sialkot district, some 100-km from Lahore.

Police have registered an FIR against Gujjar and arrested him.

The murder case against the suspect has been registered on the complaint of Asma's father Yaqub Masih.

According to the FIR, Yaqub Masih said her daughter worked at the house of Saeed Zaman at Mohala Parkpura Sialkot.

"On April 17, my son and I were present at Zaman's house when at 11 pm there was a knock at the door. When Asma opened the door Rizwan Gujjar who was standing outside the house threw acid on her face. He also threw kerosene oil on her setting her on fire."