Man kills wife, buries body in courtyard

A man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife on suspicion of an illicit relationship and secretly burying her body in the courtyard of his house in Vehari, police said on Thursday.

According to police, the accused, Basharat Ali, killed his 24-year-old wife, Shahida Bibi, who was the mother of two children, during the holy month of Ramadan while she was fasting.

The suspect allegedly used a sharp-edged weapon to slit her throat after their children had left the house to play.

Investigators said the accused later buried the body in the house courtyard, allegedly with the help of his brother and sister, in an attempt to conceal the crime.

He and his relatives then misled neighbours and the victim's family by claiming that Shahida had travelled to her parental home in Sahiwal, where she had died of a heart attack and was buried there.

However, suspicions raised by local residents and the victim's relatives prompted them to inform police. Acting on the tip-off, Saddar Police took the suspect into custody nearly 20 days after the incident.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to the murder, stating that he suspected his wife of having an illicit relationship. Police said further investigation revealed that the suspect's siblings may also have been involved, and their role is being examined.

A police team, led by SDPO Muhammad Rizwan Khan, SHO Hassan Aftab Kiyani and Inspector Tahir Faryad, recovered the body from the courtyard in the presence of local witnesses.

The remains were shifted to hospital for post-mortem after completion of legal formalities.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including murder and concealment of evidence and further investigation is under way. Police officials said efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects involved in the crime.

Authorities added that all aspects of the case are being thoroughly examined to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.