Police say Humayun allegedly attacked Mehwish after she resisted an attempted sexual assault before her three children were also killed.
KARACHI – Web Desk: Police say a suspect arrested in connection with the killing of a woman and her three children in Karachi’s Surjani Town allegedly attempted to sexually assault the woman before attacking her after she resisted.
West Zone DIG Irfan Baloch identified the suspect as Humayun, a resident of New Karachi, during a press conference on Thursday. He said the suspect allegedly remained inside the family’s home for several hours on the day of the killings.
Police describe alleged sequence of events
According to DIG Baloch, Humayun allegedly attempted to sexually assault 34-year-old Mehwish. Police say she resisted, after which the suspect allegedly struck her with an iron rod.
The DIG said the same rod was allegedly used in the killings before the suspect discarded it in a drain while returning home. Police were continuing efforts to recover the alleged weapon.
The allegations are part of an ongoing police investigation and have not been established through a court judgment.
The Express Tribune reported that police identified Humayun as a close relative of the deceased woman and said he was the husband of Mehwish’s sister-in-law. Police also said he had previously rented the upper portion of the house from Mehwish’s husband.
Woman and three children killed
The case came to light on Monday after Mehwish and her three children were found at their home in Sector 7-D, Surjani Town.
Two of the children were found dead inside the house, while the youngest child was critically injured and later died while being taken to hospital. Post-mortem examinations found severe head and brain injuries among the victims.
The four victims were later laid to rest following completion of legal and medical formalities.
Police investigate alleged attempt to stage robbery
DIG Baloch said the suspect allegedly attempted to make the killings appear to be a robbery.
According to police, children’s clothes were removed from a cupboard and scattered inside a room. Investigators are examining this claim alongside other physical and forensic evidence collected from the house.
The Express Tribune reported that police also alleged the suspect washed himself and the suspected weapon before leaving the area. These details remain part of the police account of the investigation.
CCTV, phone and forensic evidence examined
Investigators have completed geo-fencing of the area and obtained call-detail records to examine movements and communications around the time of the killings.
Police are also reviewing CCTV footage, fingerprints, blood samples and other forensic material. Chemical and forensic examination reports were still awaited, according to the DIG.
Mehwish’s missing mobile phone is another key lead. Police believe the device may have been removed from the house after the killings and are examining data associated with her SIM card to reconstruct communications before the incident.
Suspect to be produced before court
According to The Express Tribune, Humayun was due to be produced before a court on Friday, with police expected to seek his physical remand for further investigation.
Police have formed an eight-member investigation team and are continuing to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the deaths.
