ast week, the story of DSP Usman Haider’s apprehension for the murder of his wife and daughter in Lahore sent shockwaves across the country. Preliminary investigations point to a crime rooted in domestic violence and property dispute. It is alleged that the suspect had initially tried to mislead the police by filing a false kidnapping report at the Burki police station.

The sequence of events, according to the police points to deliberate and premeditated crime. This has raised serious concerns about accountability within the law enforcement agency. The question being asked is: did a serving DSP exploit his position and misuse official resources to commit and conceal a heinous crime?

SP Ayaz Hussain, who played a key role in the inestigation under directions from DIG Zeeshan Raza and SSP Muhammad Naveed, tells TNS: “Suspicion was raised when the call history of his official cell phone indicated that the phone had been powered off for at least 10 hours on the day he allegedly killed his wife and daughter.”

According to the SP, further investigation established DSP Haider’s crime. On September 25, he allegedly drove his wife and daughter in an official police vehicle, taking them for dinner near Lahore airport. He took the Ring Road. Shortly afterwards, at around 11 pm, he is alleged to have killed both of them on board the official vehicle. He disposed of their bodies in two separate places near Kahna to “hoodwink the police.”

Subsequently, he filed a false abduction case, claiming that his wife and daughter had gone missing.

What led to the “cold-blooded murders” is reportedly a conflict over a 10-marla plot that Haider had sold to fund his brother’s wedding.

The victims’ relatives don’t trust the police investigation. In a recent press conference, they called upon the chief minister to order a reinvestigation. 

Investigators say Haider acted alone. They say there is no evidence of any accomplices. The police have recovered a 9mm private pistol used in the crime. Haider is now under police remand, facing charges of double murder and filing a false case. He is said to have confessed to the murders.

A murder case has been registered at the Burki police station. DSP Usman Haider remains in custody. DNA testing has been conducted as part of the investigation. Authorities say forensic evidence supports the findings so far.

However, there is some scepticism about the police’s claim of a solitary perpetrator. It has been pointed out it would be quite challenging for a single person to kill two people within a vehicle and transport their bodies without being noticed on a main road, and dispose of them single-handedly at different locations.

Blood stains found at the accused’s house and the vehicle’s seats also suggest that the murders may have been committed at two different locations, or that the bodies were transported after a struggle.

Another outstanding question is why the police did not immediately leverage Safe City cameras to establish the vehicle’s movement?

Concerns have also been raised about whether the Sheikhupura and Kahna police adhered to the standard operating procedures in handling the case. Some of the victims’ relatives say they don’t trust the police investigation. In a joint press conference, held recently at the Lahore Press Club, they called upon the chief minister to order a reinvestigation.

A courts has extended Haider’s physical remand for further interrogation.

Ahsan Zia is a print and broadcast journalist