Shabana Bibi, a 28-year-old woman, and her six-year-old son were found killed at their house in Chah Jammuwala on Tuesday night.
Her brother Nauman, who discovered the bodies said he suspected her father-in-law, who was arrested shortly after the complaint was registered.
Nauman said Shabana Bibi, her husband Yousuf and their children had stopped living with Yousaf’s parents after they developed differences with his father.
Nauman said when he visited her house to meet them, her father-in-law Muhammad Husain opened the door and told him that they were not home and that he should return later. He said he was surprised to see Husain there, but did not deem it appropriate to question him.
He said when he went back a few hours later, Husain again asked him to leave. This time, he said, he got suspicious and forced his way in. He said found the bodies of his sister and nephew lying in a pool of blood in her room. Their throats had been slit.
He said Shabana Bibi was already dead, but her son Adil, was still breathing. He said he informed the police and tried calling Yousuf, but his cell phone was switched off. He said he also called some neighbours to help him take the child to the hospital, but he died on the way.
The bodies were sent to Nishtar Hospital for post-mortem examination. Doctors said the autopsy report revealed that Shabana had been six-month pregnant.
Police said Yousaf was nowhere to be found and speculated that he, too, was involved in the murders. A police team was looking for him.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2013.