British-Pakistani man convicted of murdering mother-in-law in Lahore

Tariq Rana shot his mother-in-law at her Lahore home after his wife Ayesha Riaz left him

A British-Pakistani has been convicted of murdering his mother-in-law at her residence in Lahore in a revenge killing after his wife left him.

Tariq Rana, 31, the abusive husband of 28-year-old Ayesha Riaz shot his mother-in-law Ghulam Asia at her house in Lahore, according to the police. Rana  was convicted at the Woolwich crown court of murder and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on July 31.

A resident of Wolverhampton, Rana travelled to Lahore to hunt down his wife's relatives after she split with him. Rana accompanied with an unidentified accomplice and visited the home of Riaz’s mother, disguised as a delivery man. Rana shot his mother-in-law as she appeared on the doorway to sign for the delivery.

Hours later, Ghulam Asia succumbed to her injuries.

Read: Murder-suicide: Man commits suicide after killing wife, son

Further, Rana made phone calls to Riaz’s brothers threatening to kill them all as well if his wife did not return to him.

During the trial, Rana denied he had anything to do with the shooting and claimed that he went to Asia’s home to reconcile with his wife. "An argument ensued, during which two gunshots were fired by either the bodyguard or a member of Asia’s own family," he told the jury.

However, chief inspector Tim Duffield, the Metropolitan police’s homicide and major crime command, pronounced Rana a "violent and controlling man" who murdered his mother-in-law in the most cold-hearted manner.

Read:Pakistani charged with killing wife, her ‘lover’ 

“This was not a spontaneous event, but rather a revenge-driven premeditated attack aimed at causing maximum distress and suffering to his estranged wife and her family,” he said.

“It is also important to recognise the considerable assistance we received from the Pakistani authorities, without which justice for Mrs Asia’s family would not have been possible," Duffield added.

“My deepest sympathies go out to Mrs Asia’s family who has shown great dignity and courage throughout.”

Rana’s sister and brother-in-law were both acquitted of abetting in murder after the trial.

Rana was prosecuted in the UK under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 for the attack on 27 July 2013, which gives authority for a UK national to be tried for a murder committed in a foreign country.

The article originally appeared on The Guardian.