US national, two others held in double murder case
Courtesy: AFP
Police have arrested a man holding American nationality for allegedly shooting dead his wife and sister-in-law in Faisalabad's Jhang Bazaar area. The investigators have described the incident as a suspected "honour"-related double murder.
The suspect's father-in-law and brother-in-law have also been taken into custody for allegedly attempting to mislead police and tamper with evidence.
According to the police report, the incident took place at a residence in C-Block, Shahbaz Town.
The accused, identified as Usman Saleem, originally from Toba Tek Singh and currently residing in California, USA, allegedly opened fire on his 28-year-old wife Sidra, a mother of four, and her sister Faiza, who had come from Chak 202-RB Bhaiwala to visit family.
Both women sustained multiple bullet injuries and died at the scene.
Police said that after the shooting, the suspect fled, while other family members remained at the house.
When senior police officers arrived, the victims' father, 65-year-old Muhammad Amin, and brother Naveed reportedly tried to present the incident as an accidental discharge of a firearm.
However, officers grew suspicious due to inconsistencies in their statements.
SP Lyallpur Town Abid Zafar said that during further questioning, the two men allegedly admitted that Usman Saleem had intentionally shot the women.
Investigators believe the killings were carried out over suspicions regarding Sidra's character.
"The accused suspected his wife of having an illicit relationship and claimed she would remain away from home for long hours on the pretext of shopping," a police source said, adding that the sister-in-law was also shot during the incident.
Police traced the suspect using the tracker installed in a rented vehicle he had used to escape.
He was arrested within hours during a raid in a village near Toba Tek Singh.
The weapon allegedly used in the crime and spent bullet casings were recovered from inside the house, including evidence found beneath a bed.
During initial interrogation, police alleged that the accused attempted to offer bribes in US dollars to senior officers in an effort to hush up the case.
He also allegedly admitted offering money to his father-in-law and brother-in-law to help present the incident as accidental and conceal evidence.
The bodies of both victims were shifted to hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Police have registered a case under sections 302 (murder), 311, 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 109/34 (abetment and common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code against the suspect and the two relatives.
Further investigation is underway to determine all aspects of the crime.
Police officials said the couple had been married for several years and had four children.
They had recently arrived in Faisalabad from the United States to attend a family wedding.
Authorities said the case is being treated as a high-profile matter, and investigators are gathering forensic and digital evidence to strengthen the prosecution.