Police suspect relatives behind murder as case of couple’s killing in Lyari registered

Police have registered a case against unidentified persons following the killing of a couple who contracted a freewill marriage in Bajuar Agency.

The couple was shot dead in the Lyari area within the limits of the Napier police station on Thursday night. The man killed in the incident was identified as Ataullah and his wife as Rahadiya, alias Samreen.

Police said the victims were originally from Bajaur Agency and had married two years ago. After their marriage, the couple moved to Lahore and then Karachi. The victims had stayed at a private hotel in Lyari before moving to a rented house in the Napier Road area.

The couple had boarded a rickshaw from a shopping mall near Clifton Sea View on Thursday night and were heading towards Lyari when the incident occurred. Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire and fled the scene, police stated, adding that a double murder case had been registered by the victim's cousin Asfandyar against unidentified armed assailants.

Police said the victims had been expelled from the area by the local elders through a jirga and they suspected that the victims' close relatives may be involved in the crime as the incident appeared to be an honour killing.