Four of a family shot dead, killer commits suicide

Police say the attacker was disheartened after girl’s family rejected his marriage proposal

MULTAN: At least four members of a family were gunned down and four others were injured over a matrimonial issue in Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil in Multan district on Sunday.

According to Jalalpur Pirwala police, the killer also committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. They said that 21-year-old Atiqur Rehman broke into the house of Rafique, located in Islampura village in Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil, and opened indiscriminate firing, killing three members of a family on the spot. Another woman succumbed to her injuries at Nishtar Hospital.

Rescue 1122 officials said that the deceased were identified as Muhammad Rafique, 50, Muhammad Asif, 19, Nasreen Bibi, 22 and Sana Bibi, 10.

Police told The Express Tribune that the family was shot dead for rejecting a marriage proposal. The girl for whom the marriage proposal was sent for was also killed in the innocent. The deceased victim’s sister also suffered injuries, said police.

Police said that Atiqur Rehman was a resident of Khushab and came to Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil to talk to Rafique in order to convince him to reconsider his proposal. He was extremely upset when the family rejected his proposal. They are investigating the matter.

On the other hand, City Police Officer Imran Mahmood has directed DSP Cantonment Tariq Mahboob to conduct a search operation, along with other law enforcement agencies, to probe the Jalalpur Pirwala  tehsil incident that occurred after Eidul Fitr prayers on June 5. In the incident, at least 10 people were killed and 17 others injured in an armed clash among the members of a family over a land dispute.

According to Jalalpur Pirwala police, around 20 people from the Kala Jafar Group were coming back from a mosque after offering Eid prayers when members of the Ghulam Nazuk Group opened indiscriminate firing. As a result, a gun battle ensued in which seven people from the Kala Jafar Group, while three from the rival group were killed.

Police said initial investigations revealed that the clash took place over a land dispute while further investigation is still under way. “Wanted robbers, Kala Jaffar and his son, are among those who were killed,” police said.

Mahmood said that the objective of the search operation is to deweaponise the area and to completely eradicate crime from society.

Sadar police have conducted search operations in Basti Zaidan, Basti Darg, Basti Dahar and Basti Sawan. They claimed that they have recovered heavy weaponry and explosives during search operations and have arrested seven suspects.

The area residents were also briefed about the importance and sensitivity of the operation and they were requested to cooperate in the coming days till the successful completion of operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2019.