5 dead in double murder-suicide

Spurned lover kills former fiancée before taking own life

Five people were killed in separate murder-suicides reported across the province. Two people were killed in an incident in Noorpur Thal, while three others died in Multan.

A 20-year-old man allegedly took his own life after gunning down his cousin. The suspect, identified as Amir from Rangpur Baghor, had been engaged to his cousin Mehwish since childhood. However, Mehwish's family arranged her marriage to another person from a distant family two weeks ago, leaving Amir frustrated and motivating the heart-wrenching incident.

Upon Mehwish's return to her house on Wednesday, Amir allegedly shot her dead with a pistol. Overwhelmed by grief and loss, Amir allegedly also took his own life on the spot. Noorpur Thal police reached the scene upon reports of the murder suicide and secured the bodies, shifting them to THQ Hospital Noorpur Thal for further investigation.

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According to police sources and local accounts, Mehwish's early engagement to her uncle's son was challenged by family members, preventing the relationship from progressing. Her late father decided to marry her off to another relative two weeks ago. While Mehwish found happiness in her new marital home, Amir harboured deep discontent with the situation. Meanwhile in Multan, a man allegedly shot and killed two women over a domestic dispute and committed suicide by shooting himself. Police registered a case of the incident.

Maqsood Bibi, a resident of Suraj Kund Road, filed a complaint with police contending that her elder daughter, Saima, was the target of domestic violence at the hands of her husband, Fayaz. The couple married 12 years ago and they have three children. Fed up with domestic disputes, Saima came to Maqsood Bibi's house two years ago.

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On Wednesday night, the accused Ahmed Nawaz entered the house along with his brother Fayaz, where Saima and her younger sister Shahnaz were present. Saima and her sister got into an argument with Ahmed and Fayaz. The accused grew angry and allegedly opened fire on the two women, severely injuring 33-year-old Saima and 27-year-old Shahnaz. The victims succumbed to their injuries on the spot. After the incident, the accused fled the scene and a few hours later, prime accused Ahmed Nawaz allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself.

Upon receiving information of the incident, police and rescue teams reached the spot, took the bodies into custody and shifted them to Nishtar Hospital for a post-mortem report. Police started investigating the incident. Initial investigations suggest that the murder was a domestic dispute that turned deadly, police sources said.

Police registered a case against Fayyaz, Ahmad Nawaz, Najma Bibi and Kiran Bibi on the complaint of Maqsood Bibi, the mother of the slain women.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2023.