18-year-old poisoned her parents, siblings

Shaista wanted to marry her maternal cousin but her parents were against it

HYDERABAD:

Police on Sunday claimed to have cracked the ghastly case of poisoning of 13 family members in Khairpur district in August.

The gruesome mass murder was committed by the daughter of the slain couple over the issue of free will marriage.

Baradi Jatoi police station SHO Talib Hussain Junejo and women police SHO Razi Shar told a press conference in Khairpur district on Sunday that the 18-year-old daughter of the slain couple and her cousin have been arrested in connection with the killings.

"Shaista Brohi [accused] wanted to marry her paternal cousin Ameer Bux Brohi [accused] but her parents rejected this marriage proposal," SHO Razi Shar said sharing the details of confession the suspect made during interrogation.

According to Shar, the young woman was engaged to someone else among their relatives despite her resistance and her wish to marry Ameer Bux.

Per interrogation, Shaista and Ameer Bux plotted to kill the entire family by mixing poison in the meal at a family feast.

Gul Baig Brohi, his wife Gulzadi Brohi, their five daughters including Fehmida, Hajiani, Maryam, Ganj and Sonia and three sons Manzoor, Dilbar and Dildar besides three other relatives including a child had died due to poisoning. The incident happened in village Haibat Khan brohi. The deaths had occurred over a week's time starting from August 18.

On September 13, SSP Khairpur Dr Samiullah Soomro had confirmed that poison had been found in the meal which the deceased had consumed.

SHO Junejo said that being the lone survivor of the family, she was marked as suspect along with her cousin Ameer Bux.

SHO said they conducted raids in Larkana, Shikarpur and Jamshoro districts besides some areas of Khairpur to arrest Shaista and Ameer Bux who had escaped from their homes.

They were finally caught and initially detained for questioning. In the dreaded interrogation room, Shaista broke down and spilled the beans about the ghastly murders.

Shaista, according to the police, confessed during the initial interrogation that Ameer Bux had brought the poison and he gave it to her to mix it in their food. The young woman later mixed that poison in the flour which was cooked to make bread.

Juniejo told the media that an FIR has also been lodged on the state's complaint by Sub Inspector Khair Muhammad Gondal, nominating Shaista, Ameer Bux and some unknown suspects.