Man kills girl, her brother before turning gun on himself

Dejected killer committed crime after his proposal was refused

HYDERABAD:

A man allegedly shot a girl and her brother, both law students, and then took his own life. The incident reportedly prompted by recurrent failures to secure consent for his wedding proposal, in Qasimabad, Hyderabad on Thursday. The incident happened in Arabi Square, a residential housing scheme along Wadhu Wah road.

In Charge of Naseem Nagar check post of Qasimabad police station, Inspector Noor Mustafa, informed that the alleged killer Irshad Khokhar fired multiple shots at slain 24-year-old Yusra Batool and 25-year-old Agha Akash Pathan. He added that Khokhar later shot himself in the head.

The young woman sustained three gunshots and died on the spot. Her brother, however, succumbed to his injury at the hospital. Akash was shot in the head when he quarreled with Khokhar. Earlier, Khokhar struck his car on the motorbike on which the siblings were riding.

Both of them fell on the road after which Khokhar disembarked from his vehicle and fired multiple shots on the woman.

The SSP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh informed the media that the incident happened in the noon when the siblings were returning from their law college.

Yusra was enrolled in the second year and Akash in the fourth year in the Sindh University's Institute of Law, Metharam Campus, in Hyderabad city. They also worked as juniors of advocate Jehangir Pathan, a former office bearers of Sindh High Court Bar Association.

Meanwhile, Khokhar looked after agricultural land besides studying. He reportedly sent wedding proposals for Yusra at least twice but with no success.

The young woman was killed a few hours after she celebrated her birthday with her friends and colleagues in the law college.

The dead bodies and critically wounded Akash were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital. SSP Shaikh informed that a four-member committee under ASP Rana Muhammad Dilawar has been formed to investigate the case.

The police recovered the pistol used in the crime and impounded the car.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2024.