Multan man kills, burns wife and eight others over suspicion of bad character

MULTAN: A man killed his wife and eight others of her family in the early hours of Monday morning here in the Hasanabad Gate No. 1 area before locking them up in a room and setting it on fire, authorities said, allegedly over honour and having suspicions about his wife's character.

The incident occurred at 1AM, Monday morning, when the man — identified as Ajmal — entered his in-laws' residence along with his father, Zafar, and brother Ashmal and opened fire, police said.

City Police Officer (CPO) for Multan Imran Mahmood said Ajmal, the primary suspect, used to work in Saudi Arabia and had returned to Pakistan a couple of days ago. Both he and his father Zafar were arrested and weapons recovered, Mahmood added.

However, the CPO said the third accomplice, Ajmal's brother Ashmal, was absconding and raids were being carried to search for him.

Eight people, including two children, had died on the spot and three critically wounded when Ajmal opened fire but a 14-year-old child succumbed to his injuries later in the day, bringing the total number of fatalities to nine, according to Nishtar Hospital.

Among the nine deceased were Ajmal's wife Kiran, daughter Maira, mother-in-law Tasleem, sisters-in-law Saima, Asma, and Roma, son Adil, niece Naima, and 14-year-old nephew Sayem.

Upon receiving a call about the incident, police and rescue teams arrived on site and doused the fire, before transferring the bodies and the wounded people to Nishtar Hospital.

Four relatives, including children, tried to save those who were set on fire by Ajmal but he shot and wounded them. Among the injured was Ajmal's 24-year-old brother-in-law Ali Raza, who was under treatment.

Eyewitnesses narrated that Ajmal doused the house in petrol after the firing spree and set it on fire.

Ajmal allegedly had suspicions over his wife's character, which is what led him to attack his in-laws' residence along with his two accomplices. His wife was his paternal uncle's daughter with whom he had three daughters and a son in total.

A first information report (FIR) was registered in the New Multan police station on behalf of the wounded brother, Ali Raza, and contains clauses of murder and terrorism. An investigation was subsequently commenced.

Raza, the 24-year-old wounded brother of Ajmal's wife, Kiran, spoke to media earlier on Monday and demanded Ajmal be immediately hanged to death in public.

Raza explained that Ajmal often argued with his wife, Kiran. "Last night, our mother was sick so all the sisters had come to visit. One of my sisters was cooking food and he fired at her first.

"Then, he proceeded inside and shot everyone else," Raza added, saying Ajmal was accompanied by his father, Zafar, and brother, Ashmal.

Separately, later in the day, the Rescue 1122 chief visited the burnt house, saying he was there on Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar's orders.

Dr Rizwan, the director-general of the Rescue 1122, spoke to media afterwards and explained that his team arrived at the crime scene six minutes after they received the call.

"If the fire brigade arrived late, we're investigating that," Dr Rizwan said. "Rescue 1122 does not tolerate any kind of delays and we are buying new ambulances to improve our service."

The deceased's funeral prayers were offered Monday evening in Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh. A large crowd of people, including political and social workers and police and civil officers, were present there.

Bereaved surviving family members broke into tears and hugged each other in the extremely emotional moment when the nine dead bodies were brought for the funeral prayers.

The victims were buried in a local graveyard.