Mystery murder solved?: Police arrest killers of three sisters, brother

The bodies were recovered three days after the murder.

RAWALPINDI:

The police arrested two alleged killers who poisoned three sisters and their brother to death in their house in Muslim Town some 54 days ago.

The incident had occurred in the jurisdiction of Sadiqabad Police Station. Speaking at a press conference, Superintendent of Police Jamat Shah Bukhari identified the alleged killers as Muhammad Aqil and Aizazur Rahman, and informed that they were apprehended from Muhammadi Colony. One was living with his sister and the other in a rented house.

The two were painters by profession, who had been hired for a job in the deceased’s house.

“In time, the painters developed a relationship with the family members to gain their trust,” said Bukhari.

He added that in the meantime, the accused discovered prize bonds worth Rs3.5 million and 25-tola jewelry in a safe located inside the house.

“At some point they decided to steal the valuables and planned to kill the family. They mixed 25 tablets of a poisonous medicine in a drink and gave it to the family,” the police officer revealed.

“They started vomiting blood after drinking it and died instantly,” he said. Another official close to the investigation said that the killers ran off with the valuables. “Before leaving, they did their best to destroy evidence as they even washed the dishes and took the bottle of poison,” he said.

Rahman is the resident of Noorpur Sethi in Kallar Kahar while Aqil is from Jhelum. The accused were also produced before the media in Sadiqabad Police Station. The police claimed they have confessed to the crime and will be produced in the court for necessary action.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Saleem, a retired government servant who lived with his three sisters - Tahira Ijaz, Shamim Ijaz and Sajida Ijaz - all hailing from Murree. They had been living in the double-storey house for the last five years. Saleem was about 64 years old and unmarried, while his sisters were over 50.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2013.