KARACHI: A nine-year-old boy sitting in the lap of a bridegroom was killed when the latter was shot in the early hours of Sunday in Keamari, police said.

They said the groom along with the boy were returning home after the marriage ceremony.

According to the initial police inquiry, the attack was carried out by a cousin of the bride who wanted to marry her.

The police said that a single bullet killed the boy, Sudais Shernawaz, and wounded his cousin (bridegroom) Asfandyar, 24, in the attack at Masan Chowk, Keamari.

Jackson SHO Malik Adil Khan identified the suspect as Shahid Akhter, saying that he was a cousin of the bride.

The officer added that the couple, after the marriage ceremony, was going back home by a car and the boy was sitting in the lap of the bridegroom when the suspect fired on the bridegroom.

The bullet hit in the abdomen of Sudais, which pierced through his body and caused his instant death, the SHO said.

The body was taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Later on, the coffin was taken to his native town, Thatta, for burial.

Asfandyar was taken to a private hospital in Clifton where his condition was stated to be out of danger.

The suspect managed to escape from the crime scene.

Regarding the motive, SHO Khan said the bride’s father had verbally told his nephew, Shahid, about 10-12 years ago that he would marry off his daughter to him. But that did not happen as the girl excelled in education while Shahid had abandoned further studies.

The officer said the suspect might have made an attempt on the life of the bridegroom.

The police have registered a murder case against the suspect on the complaint of Umer Khan, the groom’s father.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2021