Caught before flight: Killer of wife, daughter arrested at airport

Suspect opened fire on his own family over domestic dispute

ISLAMABAD: Rawalpindi police have arrested a man who allegedly gunned down his own wife and daughter in Kallar Syedan on October 6.

Tariq Mehmood, the suspect, was reportedly apprehended by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the Islamabad International Airport as he tried to flee the country on Monday morning.

According to an FIR registered at Kallar Syedan police station, Mehmood allegedly opened fire on his wife and daughters in his home in Kallar Syedan on the afternoon of October 6.

Mehmood’s brother-in-law Muhammad Naeem had told the police that he was at his sister, Rukhsana’s house on the day of the incident to discuss and find a solution to the dispute between her and her husband, Mehmood. He said the couple had a dispute over a marriage proposal. Naeem said the couple argued again and in the meanwhile Mehmood brought out a pistol and opened fire on his wife Rukhsana, 45, and daughter Umme Kasum, 20. Both died on their way to hospital. Police said Rukhsana was shot in her chest, abdomen and leg while daughter Umme Kalsum was hit in her neck and a hand. The other two daughters of the couple, 23-year-old Durre Shahwar and 17-year-old Najma Tariq, were also injured in the firing. The couple had four daughters and a son.

The suspect used a 30-bore pistol. Suspect’s brothers-in-law Naeem and Saqib Nadeem were also present on the occasion but reportedly remained unhurt.

The suspect had fled the scene after the incident and police had been carrying out raids to arrest him. On Monday morning, the suspect boarded a flight at the new Islamabad International Airport for Qatar but was apprehended by the FIA and later handed over to Rawalpindi police.

Sub-inspector Khizar Hayat from Kallar Syedan police confirmed to The Express Tribune that the suspect had been taken into custody by the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2018.