Woman killed for rejecting marriage proposal

Police arrest her cousin who had tried to paint the incident as honour killing

HYDERABAD:

Police on Friday arrested the main accused wanted for the murder of a young woman.

The suspect, Akbar Soomro, had sent a marriage proposal of his brother for Muhammad Qasim Soomro's daughter Iqra Soomro aged 22. However, the deceased rejected the marriage proposal. Akbar and Iqra were cousins.

On Wednesday, Akbar barged into Qasim's house and started beating Iqra. He then took out a pistol and shot her. Iqra could not survive when her father tried to take her to the hospital.

Police handed over the body to the relatives after legal action, while the accused escaped.

Qasim Soomro had filed a case at the Pinyari police station nominating Akbar as the murderer of Iqra.

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According to police, the accused has been arrested with murder weapon and further investigation is underway. As per police, Akbar had opened fire and killed Iqra at her home on the Soomro Street of Shah Latif Colony within the limits of Pinyari police station.

After the incident, tension spread in the area and a large number of angry people of Soomro community gathered. Akbar had painted the incident as Karo-Kari alleging that Iqra had illicit relations with a man named Sarwar in her locality. Sarwar had to take refuge in the house of Magsi community fearing for his life as Soomro men raced after him with guns and axes. DSP Pinyari and SHO Pinyari Inspector Mumtaz Brohi had come with a heavy contingent of police to move the body to the Civil Hospital with the help of Edhi volunteers.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2023.