A Pakistani woman has publicly accused her husband of beating her and shaving her head for refusing to dance for him and his friends, in a case that has raised new concerns about women's safety in the country.

Asma Aziz, from Lahore, made headlines when she published a shocking video on social media showing her shaven head and bruised face.

Her husband, Mian Faisal, and a servant are both in police custody. Mr Faisal has denied torture.

However, the case has prompted calls for more to be done to protect women from domestic violence.

In a tweet, Amnesty International said "systemic change" was necessary.

In her video posted on 26 March, an emotional Ms Aziz alleged that two days earlier she was tortured after refusing to dance in front of her husband's friends who were at their house in Lahore's upmarket Defence Housing Authority (DHA) district.

"He took my clothes off in front of his servants. The servants held me as he shaved my hair off and burned it. My clothes were bloody. I was bound by a pipe and hung from the fan. He threatened to hang me naked," she said.

She said she went to the police to file a complaint but they procrastinated - the police deny the allegation, saying that immediately after Ms Aziz's visit to the police station a team was dispatched to her residence but it was found locked and the DHA management prevented them from entering the premises.

Police acted only after the video came to the notice of Deputy Minister for Interior, Sheheryar Afridi, who ordered officers to register a complaint.

Mr Faisal and the servant, Rashid Ali, were arrested the following day. A preliminary medical report found multiple bruises, swelling and redness on Ms Aziz's arms, cheeks and around her left eye.

Ms Aziz's lawyers later pleaded that the case be tried under the stricter anti-terrorism law instead of the usual criminal procedure.

In papers filed to the Lahore police on Wednesday, the lawyers argued that the case had caused "wider restlessness and anxiety in society".

Mr Faisal told the police last week that his wife had started cutting her hair under the influence of drugs, and that he, having also taken drugs, only helped her finish the job.
The case caused a furore on social media, with many voicing their anger at domestic violence in Pakistan.

Pakistani actress and singer Sanam Saeed was among those who spoke out in defence of Ms Aziz.

You must be kidding me.

austyn0:
You must be kidding me.

Fine woman before o

ThePreachersSon:


Fine woman before o

Yeaah, I saw the pretty face.

He fawked up

austyn0:
You must be kidding me.

Same way Igbo people behave to their wives and we then accuse Buhari of labeling them terrorist

whilst they're indirectly connected to Pakistan

Which kain man be this sef, how will you want to turn your own wife to stripper in front of your friends. I no just understand this post

tyup:


Same way Igbo people behave to their wives and we then accuse Buhari of labeling them terrorist

whilst they're indirectly connected to Pakistan

You had to go there?