Couple gunned down ‘for honour’

Evidence being collected by forensic teams, police reports

KHANEWAL:

A man allegedly killed his niece and her fiancé after inviting them to his home under the pretext of arranging their marriage.

DPO Umar Farooq took notice of the heinous murder incident, which occurred late on Thursday night Moza Chirg Bella.

According to Irshad, father of the slain Mubasher Irshad, the accused Riaz invited his niece, 18-year-old Rabia Batool and her fiancé, 25-year-old Mubasher, to his home.

According to the complainant, Riaz assured his niece and her fiancé that he would arrange their marriage, which the girl’s family did not approve of. When the couple reached the home, Riaz allegedly opened fire and killed them on the spot in an apparent honour killing.

Police said that evidence was being collected by forensic teams, while the bodies had been shifted to civil hospital for an autopsy.

Cases of honour killing in Punjab are on the rise. Earlier in January, a man allegedly shot his sister dead upon suspicion of adultery in Dijkot.

The deceased’s mother, father and sister reportedly washed away the blood, calling the murder a suicide.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2024.