Bilal Ahmed, a resident of Millatabad near Rawalpindi, married Shehla Bibi about a year ago. The couple decided to separate as they could not develop an understanding with one another.
Some media reports suggested that both Ahmed and Shehla were in love with other persons and this led to their decision to separate.Ahmed went to the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint in the Margalla Hills overlooking Islamabad yesterday and claimed his wife had fallen into a deep gorge while standing atop a hill.
His claim triggered a frantic search for the woman by police and a state-run rescue service. Rescuers even found the woman's 'dupatta', shoes and handbag, which were thrown into the gorge by Ahmed, police officials said.
Police became suspicious after Ahmed gave differing accounts of the incident to local residents and rescue workers.
The chief of Kohsar police station, Mehr Munawar, smelt a rat when rescuers could not trace Shehla in the gorge even after a prolonged search. He then contacted Shehla’s parents in Multan and was told that she was safe in their home.
Following this disclosure, officials arrested Ahmed and registered a case against him and Shehla for misguiding police and giving false information.
During preliminary questioning, Ahmed told police that he and Shehla wanted to separate and adopted this elaborate ruse. He said Shehla gave him her 'dupatta', purse and shoes and asked him to pretend that she had fallen into the gorge.