Man slays six family members before suicide
Distressed by financial difficulties, a resident of Sootar Mandi area took his own life after killing his two wives and four children on Thursday.
The police took custody of the seventh body and initiated investigations after shifting it to the hospital.
Upon receiving reports of the grave incident, top police officials, including SSP Operation Hassan Javed Bhatti, SP Madina Town Shah Amir, DSP Nashta Abad Ghazi Rana Umar Draz, along with police officers from various departments, rushed to the scene.
They cordoned off the area and began gathering evidence with the help of forensic experts. Sheikh Kazim Jawad, aged 55, in distress due to domestic and financial issues, committed the gruesome act. After killing his 45-year-old wife Ambreen, second wife 30-year-old Fiza, daughters Yumna, 22, Arooj, 19, Ruma, 8 and his son Moosa, 6, he turned the gun on himself.
Upon hearing the gunfire, locals alerted the Rescue 1122, prompting a swift response from their five vehicles and district emergency officers who then informed the police.
Upon arrival, the police, assisted by forensic experts, collected evidence and took custody of the seven bodies, transferring them to the hospital.
According to SHO Nashta Abad, Waseem Sahu, Sheikh Kazim Jawad first killed his wives, Ambreen and Fiza, along with his two daughters, Yumna and Arooj, before committing suicide.
He then took the children and wives inside a bedroom and carried out the heinous act.
Police said Kazim's desperate act borne out of despair and financial strain.
Earlier on April 11, a desperate man took the lives of his wife and seven children using a grass-cutting cleaver in Muzaffargarh.
The tragic event, believed to be driven by poverty and joblessness, unfolded in the Mud Wala area within the premises of Saddar Police Station, Alipur district of Muzaffargarh.
Police said the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, subsequently surrendered himself to the authorities following the devastating act.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, expressed her profound condolences over the heart-wrenching incident. She directed the Inspector General of Punjab Police to swiftly compile a comprehensive report on the tragedy.
Stressing the importance of a thorough investigation, she urged for severe punishment for the perpetrator.
This tragic event follows closely on the heels of another disturbing incident in Punjab's Toba Tek Singh. Just days prior, a domestic dispute escalated tragically, claiming the lives of six family members, including five children and their mother.
The incident in Toba Tek Singh unfolded amidst a heated altercation between Nazia Bibi and her husband, Asghar Arain. In a desperate and devastating act, Nazia poisoned the tea consumed by all the children, including herself.
These tragic events serve as stark reminders of the profound societal challenges facing many families, and the urgent need for comprehensive support systems to prevent such heart-wrenching tragedies.
Published in The Express Tribune May 3rd, 2024.