MUZAFFARGARH: Police arrested a woman and her two accomplices on Monday in Lashariwala for allegedly spiking lassi with rat killing pills resulting in the death of 13 people of her family.

Dera Ghazi Khan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Tajak said this at a press conference here on Monday.

The police presented suspects Asia Bibi, her friend Shahid and relative Zareena at the briefing.

A special team of police had been formed to probe into the death of 13 family members of Akram Lashari, of Mauza Kundai, in Seetpur. The police arrested the three who have confessed to committing the crime.

The RPO said Asia Bibi was not happy with her marriage to her cousin, Amjad, the son of Akram Lashari.

During her 45-day marriage, she quarrelled with her husband and in-laws several times and left her house for her parents.

According to police, Asia with Shahid and Zareena made a plan to kill her husband Amjad and other family members. On Oct 26, she put the poisonous tablets in the curd pot. During lunch, she served the spiked drink to the family members and 19 people fell unconscious one by one. They were shifted to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan and the Dera Ghazi Khan Teaching Hospital where 13, including Amjad, have died while six others are still under treatment.

District Police Officer Awais Ahmad said a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act had been registered against Asia and her accomplices.

The Kundaie area has been under mourning since Oct 26; local residents have buried the dead on a self-help basis whereas the district government failed to announce any financial assistance despite its earlier announcement. Only Rs50,000 were given to the heirs for burial arrangements.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...