A bridegroom who shot dead a friend of the bride at his wedding on Tuesday was arrested on Wednesday.
Police said Abdullah killed Farzana Bibi soon after nikah was solemnised.
Rafiq Ahmad, one of the groom’s parties, said the bride’s family had refused to entertain the wedding party when they reached the venue in Patraki village on Lahore-Chiniot Road half an hour before the scheduled time.
“There was an argument. However, elders on both sides pacified the offended guests and the nikah was solemnised,” he said.
Ahmad said Abdullah was then taken to the bride’s home for a ritual in which the groom is offered milk to drink.
He said Farzana, a friend of bride, cut a joke there which offended Abdullah and his friends.
“Abdullah warned her against such jokes but she ignored him. One of his friends pulled out a gun and Abdullah took it and shot Farzana.”
He said Farzana died on her way to a hospital. He said police had arrested the groom but some of his family had fled.
“After the argument with the bride’s family we were hoping for things to settle down but then this killing took place. The nikah had been solemnised and food served but the jokes at this ritual ruined everything.”
Farzana’s relatives staged a protest demonstration in front of the district headquarters hospital. They demanded that police arrest four of Abdullah’s missing relatives who they said were involved in the murder.
The protesters dispersed when police assured them that they would arrest all the suspects. Saddar Station House Officer Rai Arshad Kharal said a case had been registered against five people, including Abdullah, under Sections 302 (murder), 148 and 149 (conspiracy) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
He said Farzana’s body had been sent for an autopsy.
“We are conducting raids to arrest the remaining four suspects,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2014.