Villager burns family to death before killing himself

KASUR: With the blood of his step-mother and first wife already on his hands, a milkman on Monday committed self-immolation after burning to death his second wife and four children. Police suspected it to be a case of honour killing.

The incident took place in the village of Garaywala where Shaukat Ali sprinkled petrol on his pregnant wife Parveen Bibi, daughter Fatima (9, from first wife), Misbah (6), Munir (3), and Naeema (18 months) when they were asleep late Sunday night and set them ablaze. The accused later killed himself.

Police said Shaukat had clubbed to death his step-mother Kaneez in the name of honour about 15 years ago, but his father had pardoned him. Seven years later he poisoned to death his first wife Uzma, but the matter was hushed by the family.

The charred bodies of the accused, his wife and four children were sent to the DHQ hospital for autopsy, but relatives refused to take any legal action.

According to SP Investigation Hashmat Kamal, an investigation was under way and it would be difficult to establish the motive behind the killings. But, he said, the possibility of honour killing could not be ruled out.