The family of a couple murdered in Malir’s Saudabad area on Thursday demanded justice and called for the transfer of the investigation to an independent unit, alleging negligence and failure on the part of law enforcement authorities.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Haji Khan, the brother of the deceased Najibullah, along with other family members, said that Najibullah had married Nadia on May 19 this year.
He alleged that on the night of the marriage, police from the Sachal police station detained Najibullah. Despite the family’s continuous efforts, his whereabouts remained unknown for some time. Later, the family was informed by the police that Najibullah should appear before the Malir Court to record a statement.
According to Haji Khan, on May 25, Najibullah, his wife Nadia, and their cousin Javed appeared before the Malir Court, where Nadia’s parents and six to seven unidentified individuals were also present. He claimed that upon seeing those individuals, Najibullah expressed fears for his life and informed both his cousin and lawyer that the people present could harm or kill them. He subsequently requested security protection from the authorities.
The family alleged that instead of providing protection, the concerned officials advised Najibullah and his companions to travel to Hyderabad by taxi. They further claimed that after leaving the Malir Court, two suspicious motorcyclists monitored their movements near a petrol station.
As the taxi departed, gunmen riding one motorcycle allegedly opened fire, injuring Najibullah and Nadia. Near the NADRA office, assailants on another motorcycle reportedly sprayed the taxi with bullets. According to the family, Najibullah sustained nine bullet wounds, while Nadia suffered five gunshot injuries. Both died at the scene.
Khan alleged that Sajid, Nadia’s brother, had confessed that he was paid Rs350,000 by a man identified as Aslam. He further claimed that Sajid stated another individual, identified as Saeed, had allegedly “purchased” Nadia.
The family also quoted Sajid as saying that he had previously warned Najibullah against marrying into the family because the people involved were dangerous. The family expressed concern that 17 days having passed since the killings, no significant arrests had been made and no meaningful progress had been achieved in the investigation. They demanded that the case be transferred from the Saudabad police station to the District South Frere Investigation Unit for an impartial probe.
The family also sought immediate police protection, claiming they fear they could be targeted within the jurisdiction of Saudabad police station. They urged the authorities to arrest all nominated and suspected individuals involved in the case and ensure that they were brought to justice in accordance with the law.
