Three women shot dead over child custody dispute

Suspect allegedly opens fire at in-laws' home in Sheikhupura village

SHEIKHUPURA:

Three women were allegedly shot dead by a man at his in-laws' home in Thattha Ali village along the Sheikhupura-Sargodha Road following a dispute over the custody of his infant daughter, police said on Saturday.

The suspect, identified as Anser Abbas Bhatti, alias Antal Bhatti, allegedly opened fire at the house, killing his elderly mother-in-law, Najma Bibi, his sister-in-law Shamaila Bibi, wife of Subtain Bhatti and Nazia Bibi, wife of his other brother-in-law, Ali Hassan.

After the shooting, the suspect allegedly searched for his wife, Maria Bibi, both at the house and in several homes in the neighbourhood.

However, she escaped because she was away from the house when the incident occurred.

The suspect subsequently fled the village. According to the report, he also fired shots in the streets while escaping, triggering panic among residents.

Several villagers reportedly locked their homes amid fears of further violence.

Police from Sadar Farooqabad took the bodies into custody and shifted them to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Sheikhupura District Police Officer (DPO) Bilal Zafar Sheikh said a team led by DSP Farooqabad Circle Tariq Kiyani had been formed to arrest the suspect.

Police were searching for him, he added.

According to the DPO, Anser Abbas belonged to Gujiana Nau village and married Maria, a resident of Thattha Ali, about two years ago.

The couple had a daughter, but frequent domestic disputes led Maria to leave her husband and move to her parents' home.

A custody case concerning the couple's infant daughter was subsequently filed in the family court and remained pending, the DPO said.

He said the suspect allegedly travelled from Gujiana Nau to his in-laws' home in Thattha Ali on Friday and demanded that the child be handed over to him.

An argument reportedly followed, during which he allegedly opened fire, killing the three women.

Police said efforts were under way to trace and arrest the suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Abdul Kareem has taken notice of the killing of three women in Farooqabad's Thattha Ali village, Sheikhupura, allegedly by a man over a domestic dispute, and sought a report from the regional police officer (RPO), Sheikhupura.

The IGP directed the Sheikhupura district police officer (DPO) to use all available resources to arrest the suspects and ensure they were brought to justice.

According to details, the suspect, identified as Antal Abbas, allegedly became enraged after his wife sought khula (judicial dissolution of marriage) and obtained the child through a court bailiff.