Love marriage ends in bloodshed

Police suspect family members behind killing of women

KARACHI:

A woman was shot dead and her husband critically wounded in a suspected honour attack on Gulshan-e-Hadeed Link Road on Tuesday, after armed assailants allegedly targeted the couple over their marriage of choice, police said.

The couple, travelling on a motorcycle with a companion, came under a hail of bullets from unidentified gunmen riding in a white Suzuki Alto near Attock Petrol Pump. The attackers fled after the shooting, leaving Fatima Zahra dead and her husband Akbar Ali and their companion Umair critically injured.

Police said the couple had married of their own choice some time ago and a related case was pending before a court. Initial investigations suggest that members of Fatima's family may have orchestrated the attack.

PS Steel Town SHO Javed Abro said the couple and Umair were travelling from their residence in Dhabeji, Thatta, towards Korangi when they came under attack near the petrol pump.

Fatima died at the scene, while the injured were initially taken to a nearby hospital and later shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Akbar sustained six bullet wounds and was in critical condition, while Umair was hit by two bullets.

Police reached the scene after being alerted and called in the crime scene unit to collect evidence. Investigators have launched a search for the suspects and are examining evidence gathered from the site.