MURREE: The committee formed by the Punjab chief minister to investigate Maria’s death, the school teacher in Murree who was believed to have been burned by her employer, has said the victim committed suicide and was not murdered, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raza Khan told Dawn.

The inquiry committee headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abubakar Khuda Dad Khan, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khuda Bux Cheema and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ghasud Deen analysed forensic data, obtained polygraph tests, mobile phone records, fingerprints, medical reports, talked to doctors and conducted interviews in order to ascertain the cause of death, he added.

The DSP said that DIG Khuda Dad had ordered for the three suspects, Master Shaukat Abbasi, Mian Arashad and Rafaqat to be released. Master Shaukat Abbasi was considered the main suspect in the case.

Master Shaukat was the principal at the school where Maria taught. She and Master Shaukat’s son Haroon wanted to get married which Master Shaukat was not in favour of. He got his son married to another woman with whom Haroon has a child. Locals said Master Shaukat had threatened Maria and Haroon when he found that their relationship had continued and had asked Maria to stay away from his son. Meanwhile, Haroon’s wife left him along with their child.

Maria’s father had borrowed Rs150,000 from Master Shaukat, which he later said was for a joint venture. Master Shaukat had verbally abused Maria’s father, Sadaqat Abbasi, in a market place. When he had returned home, Sadaqat had beaten his daughter and said she had caused him embarrassment after which Maria had committed suicide, and had accused Master Shaukat for her death.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2016